World in Ukraine: China – China's Embrace of Russia Troubles Kyiv - Sep. 14, 2018

World in Ukraine: China – China’s Embrace of Russia Troubles Kyiv

Published Sept. 14, 2018. Updated Sept. 16 at 12:48 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin toasts his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as they taste pancakes they cooked while visiting "The Far East Street" exhibition on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 11. China says that it respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, yet conducts joint military exercises with Russia, which has seized the Crimean peninsula and parts of the eastern Donbas since the start of its war against Ukraine in 2014.

Photo by AFP

With $8 billion in bilateral trade and a pledge of at least $7 billion from China for major infrustructure projects in Ukraine, the relationship between the two countries appears to be both strong and profitable – particularly so for Ukraine, which is constructing new energy projects, highways, and a fourth metro line in Kyiv all with Chinese-supplied credit. At the same time as courting the European Union border country, China is developing a different kind of relationship with a fellow world power, Russia – a country that is actively waging warfare against Ukraine. In the 37th print issue, the Kyiv Post takes a look at China-Ukraine relations in the shadow of the Kremlin.