EU-China Relations Hit Boiling Point Over Russia Sanctions and Ukraine War

Tensions between the European Union and China have escalated sharply after the EU imposed sanctions on Chinese banks and companies accused of aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine. The EU is pressuring China to use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict, warning that Beijing's stance on the war will be the 'determining factor' in future EU-China relations. In response, China has condemned the sanctions as unlawful and vowed to retaliate, insisting that its cooperation with Russia is legitimate and not directed against third parties. High-level EU leaders are traveling to Beijing for urgent talks, but both sides are trading strong words ahead of the summit. The standoff signals a critical moment for global diplomacy, with economic ties and geopolitical alliances hanging in the balance.