EU warns China: Sanctions possible over arms to Russia

If China starts supplying weapons to Russia, the European Union will respond, a senior EU official told correspondents in Brussels on Friday. "We are talking about sanctions, but ultimately, it is up to the member states to decide what measures they will adopt," he added.

"If any country of the international community starts supplying weapons to Russia to continue the aggression against Ukraine, to continue this imperialist, neocolonial war, the EU must and will respond. We have done it before, and we are doing it in the case of Iran. We are not only talking about weapons, but also technologies," the official said.

He added that the EU is already monitoring the actions of many Chinese companies in this context. "If China crosses the designated line, we will take appropriate steps. What will these steps be? We are talking about sanctions, but the final decision belongs to the member states and concerns the scope of measures they will adopt," the official emphasized.

The foreign ministers of the EU member states are to decide on Monday to impose sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, the same senior EU official informed earlier.

These sanctions are to cover individuals and institutions responsible for the deliveries of missiles to Russia.

Close economic ties connect Iran and Russia. Their cooperation intensified after Russia, following the start of the full-scale aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, became partially isolated on the international stage.