War in Ukraine: Germany assumes China will provide drone aid to Russia

The federal government assumes that China is supporting its ally Russia with the production of drones. “This must and will have consequences,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine is also an attack on freedom in Europe and affects the core interests of all European states.

Baerbock made it clear that China should expect a similar reaction to Iran. At the meeting on Monday, the foreign ministers decided on new sanctions against the country because of missile and drone deliveries to Russia. The punitive measures affect, among other things, two Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea.

Intelligence sources report factory in China

The EU Foreign Service confirmed last week that it is currently examining indications that drones are being produced in China for the Russian war of aggression. “We have received reports from intelligence sources about the existence of a factory in China that produces drones that are supplied to Russia and used in the war against Ukraine,” an EU official said. They are currently working on finding out whether there is direct cooperation between China and Russia in the area of ​​military equipment.

According to diplomats, drone production in China is said to be a joint project between Russia, China and Iran. It therefore produces drones that can be used to attack Ukrainian territory.

China speaks of baseless speculation

China has so far rejected the allegations. With regard to arms exports, China has always taken a responsible stance and has never provided the parties to the conflict with lethal weapons, said Foreign Office spokesman Lin Jian in Beijing shortly before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting. China strictly controls drones for military purposes and those that can be used for civil and military purposes in accordance with the law. Beijing hopes that certain countries and people do not make baseless speculations against China and do not denigrate the People’s Republic without any factual basis, said Lin.

In addition to two ports, the sanctions imposed against Tehran also target Russian and Iranian shipping companies. The ports will no longer be allowed to be equipped by European companies in the future. Shipping companies will no longer be able to call at ports in the EU in the future. In addition, their assets must be frozen if they have any in the EU.

New sanctions on Iran also hit Russian companies

The sanctions are also intended to make it more difficult for Iran to support armed groups and organizations in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. From the EU’s perspective, these undermine peace and security.

The two ports affected include the one in Bandar Ansali on the Caspian Sea. The Iranian Navy’s Northern Fleet headquarters is also located there. The other port affected is Amirabad.

The EU imposed the first sanctions over Iranian missile deliveries to Russia in October. Among other things, they were directed against the Iranian state airline Iran Air, which can no longer fly to EU countries without risking that its planes will be detained there.

Britain announced that the airline’s assets would now be frozen. In addition to financial sanctions, this will further restrict the line’s air traffic to and from Great Britain, the British Foreign Office said. The state shipping company IRISL and the Russian cargo ship PORT OLYA 3 were also sanctioned by Great Britain.

Information from the EU about the meeting Link to the live stream of the PK provisional agenda