An investigation by RFE/RL’s Schemes has found that companies at least partially owned by the Chinese state are feeding critical minerals to Russian suppliers to manufacturers of weapons the Kremlin has used to pummel Ukraine since its all-out invasion nearly three years ago.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, the world has witnessed not only brutal conflict but also the complex web of international trade that continues to fuel Russia’s war efforts. One of the most alarming discoveries involves China,

When Donald Trump takes office, his greatest challenge will be how he deals with the new axis of totalitarian states. This axis comprises China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, Myanmar and a growing number of others.

Russia and China are strengthening their cooperation on AI technology. Although China-Russia imports and exports have reached record levels, growth has slowed significantly compared to 2023.

Once a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, China banned the activity in 2021, citing financial and environmental concerns. Russia is also becoming increasingly dependent on its neighbor at a time when its war-time economy is being choked by sanctions, with no end in sight.

As Eisenhower once said of how conflicts end, 'sometimes it just gets down to the dirty job of killing until one side or the other cracks.'

A Russian drone blasted a hole in an apartment building in northeastern Ukraine during a nighttime attack, killing at least four people

In December, Russia reportedly sold its stakes in certain Kazakh uranium deposits to Chinese-owned companies. This involved Kazakhstan's nuclear resources company, Kazatomprom, and Russia's Rosatom transferring interests to Chinese entities, National Security News reported.

China welcomes US President Donald Trump’s intention to resolve the "Ukraine crisis" and pledges to continue facilitating negotiations while staying in contact with all parties, stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

Russia has suffered a major economic setback, after China and India halted their purchases of Kremlin oil. Oil and gas revenues are vital sources of revenue, accounting for between a third and half of Russia 's federal budget over the last decade. In particular, these revenues play a key role in helping Putin to finance his war in Ukraine.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns over the security of energy and communication infrastructure in the Baltic Sea intensified. Initially, focus was placed on the threat of hybrid attacks from Russia.