Volodymyr Zelensky warns of WW3 if China backs Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned if China backs Russia over the war in Ukraine they could spark World War 3.

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned if China backs Russia over the war in Ukraine they could spark World War 3.
Ukraine’s hero president issued the dire warning as he met with Joe Biden during a surprise visit to Kyiv, The Sun reported.

In a newspaper interview separate from his summit with the US President, Zelensky issued the warning in no uncertain terms.

It came as the US claimed China is considering arming Russia to help Vladimir Putin win the war in Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden is greeted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv. Picture: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP

Zelensky told German daily Die Welt: “For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war. In fact, I would like it to be on our side.

“At the moment, however, I don’t think it’s possible.”

He added: “But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here.

“Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that.”

Putin will be stewing over Mr Biden’s visit as today he is due to meet with top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi.

The duelling visits are highly symbolic as China has been warned over backing Russia.

Beijing has strongly denied Washington’s claims it was considering handing over weapons to Moscow.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China was now “considering providing lethal support” to Moscow ranging “from ammunition to the weapons themselves”.

Mr Blinken’s said that Biden had warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, as long ago as last March against sending weapons to Russia.

But a strong rebuke, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: “It is the United States and not China that is endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to China's President Xi Jinping. Picture: Sergei Bobylyov/Sputnik/AFP

“We urge the United States to earnestly reflect on its own actions, and do more to alleviate the situation, promote peace and dialogue, and stop shifting blame and spreading false information.”

Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine is a sensitive issue for Beijing, which has sought to position itself as neutral while offering diplomatic backing to its strategic ally Russia.

China said it would publish this week a proposal to find a “political solution” to the Ukraine crisis, with Beijing’s top diplomat telling a conference the country is “on the side of dialogue”.

And today, the EU has also warned China about providing weapons to Russia.

Josep Borrell said he told the Chinese foreign minister that “for us, it would be a red line in our relationship”.

He went on: “He told me that they are not going to do it, that they don’t plan to do it.

“But we will remain vigilant”.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv. Picture: Evan Vucci/POOL/AFP

Fears the China could wade into the war came as Mr Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv.

Air raid sirens could be heard ringing around the city as Mr Biden arrived in the capital which remains under Russian attack.

Mr Biden met with Zelensky on the highly secretive and unprecedented trip.

The two embraced near a memorial dedicated to Ukrainian servicemen.

The US President vowed Washington will stand with Kyiv for “as long as it takes”.

And the Ukrainian leader hailed Mr Biden’s visit, saying it shows Russia has “no chance” to win.

“This is an unequivocal signal that Russian attempts to win will have no chance,” said Zelensky.

“Together we will protect our cities, our people from the terror of Russia.”

Mr Biden pledged another $500 million to support Ukraine, and Zelensky said they discussed long-range weapons.

The latest aid package is expected to include more HIMARS missiles, more artillery shells, and radars.

The White House is also expected to announce a new raft of sanctions against Russian elites and companies.

Mr Biden last visited Ukraine in 2017 on his final foreign trip while serving as vice president for Barack Obama.

His visit came just days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24.

Putin is believed to be preparing for a massive new offensive in the coming weeks to coincide with the war’s first anniversary on February 24.

This story was originally published by The Sun and was reproduced with permission