KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told “Axios on HBO” that he does not view China as a major geopolitical threat – a position that may cause him friction with Biden’s government and Congress – even as he promised Chinese control over critical matters to limit. technology sectors.
Why it matters: Zelensky’s comments represent a break with the US national security leaders of both major political parties who are trying to rally allies to face the threat from the Chinese Communist Party.
Driving the news: When asked about the emerging consensus in Washington that China is the biggest geopolitical threat, Zelensky said, “I cannot agree, because we don’t feel this in Ukraine.”
- “There is really a kind of cold war between China and the United States,” he said.
- “We know that US business is represented in Ukraine, but at the same time it is true that Chinese business is also represented.”
- “I believe that regardless of nation, nationality, as people, as business, as a particular country, treat you with respect, with respect for your people and borders, they can be present in your country.”
Between the lines: The US has only so much power to push Zelensky out of China. Beijing has crushed Washington with vaccination diplomacy – a painful reality that Zelensky discussed in the “Axios on HBO” interview.
- Zelensky has been trying to get the better American vaccines for his country. And he urged Europeans to help them. But given the difficulty he faces in securing doses, he said he is willing to work with Beijing to get large amounts of a safe COVID vaccine for the Ukrainian people.
- Worth nothing: The US did not offer its superior vaccines to Ukraine and was in fact taking steps to make it more difficult for Zelensky to obtain them.
Behind the scenes: How to deal with China is an increasingly important issue in US-Ukraine relations. Trump administration officials expressed concern that China – which became Ukraine’s main trading partner in 2019 – was flooding Ukraine with easy money and in return embedding itself in Ukraine’s critical sectors, including defense and telecom.
- US officials are concerned that China is stealing intelligence secrets and exerting nefarious influence on allies who are increasingly obliged to Beijing.
Yes but: For years, senior US government officials have been trying to convince Ukraine to dissuade China from buying Motor Sich, an aero engine manufacturer that is the crown jewel of the Ukrainian defense industry.
- In the interview, Zelensky said definitively for the first time that he will not allow China, or any other country, to buy a controlling stake in Motor Sich.
- “Never,” he said. “Not under me. I’m not here for life … [But] in my time [in office], absolutely not.
It comes down to: Russia is a much bigger concern for Ukraine. But when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, China never condemned Russia’s action. So while Zelensky may not list China as a threat, he knows that China cannot be trusted in a crisis between Russia and Ukraine.