US Hoping Sanctions Against Russia's Chinese Suppliers Will Deter More Support, Official Says

The Biden administration hopes that new export controls and sanctions against Russia's war machine suppliers, including China, will spur Beijing to rethink its support for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a State Department official said June 26.

“It’s true Russia stays on the battlefield because of China’s support,” James O’Brien, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe. “We are attempting to focus their minds with a whole set of export controls and sanctions, including a package recently released."

Restrictions unveiled earlier this month include sanctions against seven Chinese companies that provide microelectronics and other dual-use goods to Russia's defense industrial base (see 2406120036).

O’Brien made his comments in response to subcommittee Chairman Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J., who accused the administration of taking only “limited steps” to curb China’s “enormous support” for Russia’s war effort.

“Numerous experts, even senior officials of this administration, have publicly admitted that Russia’s defense industrial base is improving and that China’s support has been indispensable to this development,” Kean said. “This administration’s attempts to curtail China’s support of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine are failing.”

Also in his testimony, O’Brien touted an agreement by the Group of Seven nations earlier this month to use interest from frozen Russian assets to finance about $50 billion in loans to Ukraine (see 2406140056). He said the loans will ensure Ukraine is well-resourced into next year. While Congress approved aid for Ukraine as part of the supplemental appropriations bill it passed in April, he believes achieving further U.S. financial support for Ukraine may be politically challenging.

“We’ve made clear that the supplemental is something that we don’t expect to be repeated,” O’Brien said. “This $50 billion, in essence, gives Ukraine the opportunity to say [to Russia] in 2025, we can continue beating you on the battlefield, or if you want to discuss a responsible, reasonable peace, we may be open to that.”