An investigation by RFE/RL’s Schemes has found that companies at least partially owned by the Chinese state are feeding critical minerals to Russian suppliers to manufacturers of weapons the Kremlin has used to pummel Ukraine since its all-out invasion nearly three years ago.

With Western sanctions cutting off supplies, China has become Russia’s sole source of critical minerals used in weapons production—including nuclear arms—deepening concerns over Beijing’s support for Moscow’s war effort.

Russia has suffered a major economic setback, after China and India halted their purchases of Kremlin oil. Oil and gas revenues are vital sources of revenue, accounting for between a third and half of Russia 's federal budget over the last decade. In particular, these revenues play a key role in helping Putin to finance his war in Ukraine.

Russia and China are strengthening their cooperation on AI technology. Although China-Russia imports and exports have reached record levels, growth has slowed significantly compared to 2023.

Once a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, China banned the activity in 2021, citing financial and environmental concerns. Russia is also becoming increasingly dependent on its neighbor at a time when its war-time economy is being choked by sanctions, with no end in sight.

As China continues to boost Russia's war effort in Ukraine, Taiwan is grappling with rising Chinese pressure boosted by growing military cooperation from Russia. The deepening partnership is set to pose a new threat for U.

President Trump said Thursday he thinks China can help to end the Russia-Ukraine war because of Beijing’s economic influence over Moscow.

Kyiv region. A Russian ballistic missile strike in Ukraine's capital on the morning of January 18 killed three people and wounded three others. Dnipropetrovsk region. On the morning of January 17, a Russian missile attack on the region's second-biggest city, home to more than 500,000 residents, killed four people and wounded 14 others.

The spot price of gold hit an all-time high of $2,799.71, even with Chinese markets closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. It is up 6% for the month of January. On Jan. 30, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose 25% across-the-board tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb.

MSU history professor James Meyer, an expert in Eurasian and Russian history and Islam, attributes the declining focus on Ukraine to a growing preference for addressing domestic issues over internatio

As Russia's options to purchase gallium and germanium from around the world almost disappeared, China became the sole supplier in 2023, the investigation said, citing leaked data from Russian customs databases.