German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday that he plans to discuss the issue of arms deliveries to Russia with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the fringes of the G20 summit.
“It is always a topic of my talks to warn everyone against supplying lethal weapons to Russia. And that is why this will also be the case in the future, a central topic,” Scholz said at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro when asked whether he would address the alleged delivery of Chinese drones to Russia at his meeting with Xi, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
Scholz added that he has also always made a point of addressing the export of so-called dual-use goods to Russia, which can be used for both military and civilian purposes, at such meetings. He will continue to do so.
The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia as part of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine will also be discussed, he said: “This is unacceptable and is, moreover, a terrible change.”
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the German government believes that China is supporting Russia with drones.
“This must and will have consequences,” Baerbock said on Monday while attending a meeting of foreign ministers from EU countries in Brussels.
She made it clear that China would have to expect a similar response as the new EU sanctions recently imposed on Iran due to missile and drone deliveries to Russia.
The EU sanctions affect two Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea, among other measures.
