Lethal equipment flown from China to Russia for use in Ukraine, says Shapps

China is providing Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine, the UK Defence Secretary has said.
Grant Shapps suggested that British and US intelligence contradicts Beijing’s previous attempts to present itself as a moderating influence on Moscow.
Mr Shapps used a speech at the London Defence Conference on Wednesday to reveal China’s collaboration as he argued Nato needs to “wake up” and bolster defence spending alliance-wide.
He said: “Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine.”
Mr Shapps added: “US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flying from China to Russia and into Ukraine.
The Chinese president said there should be a “political solution” to the conflict in Ukraine but did not give any details, despite calls including from Downing Street for him to urge Russia to “cease its illegal war”.
Beijing is a key supporter of Mr Putin, who is widely regarded as a pariah after he ordered the invasion in 2022.
It continues to supply Moscow with key components that the Kremlin needs for its war machine, and its purchase of Russian oil and gas has helped boost the Russian economy.
Mr Shapps’ intervention comes after Julianne Smith, the US ambassador to Nato, said China is continuing to sell supplies such as drone technology and gunpowder ingredients to Russia.
It is the latest show of heightened tensions between Beijing and the US and UK, which earlier this month accused Beijing of a series of cyber attacks targeting millions of people in Western countries.