KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios on HBO that he does not regard China as a major geopolitical threat – a stance that could cause friction with the Biden government and Congress – even when he promised to limit Chinese control of critical sectors of technology.
Why does it matter: Zelensky’s comments represent a break with US national security leaders from both major political parties who are trying to bring together allies to face the threat from the Chinese Communist Party.
Driving the news: Asked about the emerging consensus in Washington that China is the number one geopolitical threat, Zelensky said: “I can’t agree with that because in Ukraine we don’t feel it.”
- “There really is a kind of cold war between China and the United States,” he said.
- “We know that US companies are represented in Ukraine, but at the same time, it is true that Chinese companies are also represented.”
- “I believe that regardless of the nation, nationality, if people, if business, if a particular country, treat you with respect, respecting its people and its borders, they can be present in your country”.
Between the lines: The United States has a limit of influence to push Zelensky away from China. Beijing crushed Washington in vaccine diplomacy – a painful reality that Zelensky discussed in the “Axios on HBO” interview.
- Zelensky tried to obtain better quality American vaccines for his country. And he pressured the Europeans for their help. But, given the difficulty he faces in securing the doses, he said he is willing to work with Beijing to obtain large quantities of a safe COVID vaccine for the Ukrainian people.
- Worthless: The United States did not offer vaccines superior to Ukraine and, in fact, took measures to make it difficult for Zelensky to obtain them.
Behind the scenes: How to deal with China is an increasingly sensitive point in US-Ukraine relations. Trump administration officials expressed particular concerns that China – which became Ukraine’s main trading partner in 2019 – was flooding Ukraine with easy money and, in return, joining critical Ukraine sectors, including defense and telecommunications .
- American officials are concerned that China will steal intelligence secrets and exert a nefarious influence on allies who are increasingly indebted to Beijing.
Yes but: Senior US government officials have been trying for years to persuade Ukraine to stop China from buying Motor Sich, an aircraft engine manufacturer that is the crown jewel of Ukraine’s defense sector.
- In the interview, Zelensky said for the first time definitively that he will not allow China, or any other country, to buy the controlling stake in Motor Sich.
- “Never,” he said. “Not under me. I am not here for life … [But] In my time [in office], definitely not.
The end result: Russia is a much more imminent concern for Ukraine. But when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, China never condemned Russia’s action. So while Zelensky may not consider China a threat, he knows that China cannot be trusted in a Russia-Ukraine crisis.