China has pushed back after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Chinese support is invaluable to Russia's ability to continue its invasion—in a rare public criticism of the East Asian country.

Why It Matters

China has long framed itself as neutral on the Russia-Ukraine war, now nearing its fourth year, and has repeatedly stressed it sells weapons to neither side.

Washington and its European allies, however, have pointed to the continuing flow of weapons components, raw materials, and other dual-use goods into Russia that could sustain its war machine.

Beijing has also become an economic lifeline for Moscow amid heavy international sanctions, with record levels of bilateral trade, including significant oil and gas purchases. The neighbors—which, in the days before the February

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