Ukraine's Zelensky: Should China ally with Russia, there would be world war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned China against supporting Russia in its year-long special operation in the former Soviet republic, saying, “There will be a world war” if Beijing sides with Moscow.

Zelensky raised the alarm in an interview with German daily Die Welt on Monday after China said the United States was in no position to make demands following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s warning against Beijing providing weapons to Russia.

"For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war. In fact, I would like it to be on our side. At the moment, however, I don't think it's possible,” Zelensky told the German paper.

"But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here," he said. "Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that."

Blinken on Saturday warned his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi of consequences should China provide material support to Russia's special operation in Ukraine, saying Washington was concerned Beijing was “considering providing lethal support” to Moscow ranging "from ammunition to the weapons themselves.”

Speaking at the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in the German capital via video link on Friday, Zelensky called on the United States and its European allies to expedite the delivery of military weapons and equipment to Ukraine despite Russia’s repeated warnings that the flow of Western arms would only escalate tensions and protract the conflict in the former Soviet republic.

MG