US envoy says China holds leverage to end Ukraine war
The United States ambassador to NATO told world leaders at the Munich Security Conference that China remains the pivotal actor capable of influencing the course of the war in Ukraine, arguing that Beijing’s economic and technological support has sustained Russia’s military campaign.
Speaking at the 62nd annual gathering in Munich, which brings together heads of state, defense ministers and foreign policy officials, Ambassador Matthew Whitaker described China and an increasingly assertive Russia as the most urgent global security challenges. He reiterated Washington’s position that Beijing possesses significant leverage over Moscow and could help bring the conflict to an end if it chose to apply pressure.
Whitaker’s remarks underscored the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to spotlight China’s role in supporting Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. He has previously said that Beijing could serve as a decisive factor in pushing President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations, given the depth of economic ties between the two countries.
According to Whitaker, China’s large-scale purchases of Russian oil and gas, along with its provision of dual-use technologies, have effectively underwritten Moscow’s war effort. He cited shipments of microchips, semiconductors and drone components that have bolstered Russia’s defense industrial base and strengthened its battlefield capabilities.
“The Chinese are buying too much Russian oil and gas right now. They are providing too much dual-use technology for this war to continue,” Whitaker said in comments reported by Interfax-Ukraine. He added that China should align with the United States and its allies in urging Russia to end the conflict.
The view that Beijing could play a decisive diplomatic role has been echoed by other Western leaders. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said in 2024 that a direct intervention by Chinese President Xi Jinping could potentially shift the dynamics of the crisis, pointing to Russia’s growing economic dependence on China.
Whitaker’s intervention came as peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States remained stalled. European officials have said that while negotiators have narrowed differences over possible ceasefire definitions and demilitarized zones, major obstacles persist. Among them are Russia’s demand for full control over the Donbas region and unresolved questions surrounding long-term security guarantees and the presence of Western forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Munich seeking additional air defense systems and firm commitments on weapons supplies from European partners. Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže told Politico that there had been no clear indication that Moscow was seriously committed to meaningful peace talks or durable outcomes.
The conference also unfolded against the backdrop of lingering transatlantic strains. Tensions between Washington and European capitals over defense spending and NATO burden-sharing have resurfaced, with the Trump administration pressing allies to increase military budgets.
Whitaker defended the administration’s stance, arguing that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security. He likened long-standing European reliance on the United States to children eventually needing to find employment, a remark that drew attention among delegates.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, addressing the Munich audience, said US leadership had been questioned and potentially weakened, urging President Trump to restore stronger transatlantic ties to confront the strategic challenges posed by China and Russia.
The discussions in Munich highlighted the intertwined nature of the Ukraine war, global power competition and alliance cohesion, with China’s role emerging as a central theme in debates over how and when the conflict might end.
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