Russia Becomes China's Largest Oil Supplier; Xi Jinping Says Ukraine War Is "Alarm for Humanity" Despite Not Giving Indication To Resolve It

China and Russia stated their relationship had "no bounds" in February.

Chinese firms, like state-owned Sinopec and state-owned Zhenhua Oil, have expanded their purchases of Russian oil in recent months after being given steep discounts as purchasers in Europe and the United States avoided Russian energy due to sanctions related to Russia's war in Ukraine.

According to Chinese General Administration of Customs figures, imports into China totaled over 8.42 million tonnes last month, including supplies pumped through the East Siberia Pacific Ocean pipeline and cargoes by sea. This knocked Saudi Arabia, which was formerly China's largest crude oil supplier, into the second position with 7.82 million tonnes.

Russia's oil revenues have begun to decline, and this trend will continue as other European countries look for new energy sources. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Trade Representative has issued a strong warning to anyone who chose to increase their purchases from Russia. Taras Kachka warned the BBC that Moscow would "weaponize anything" to influence and hold countries to ransom. However, as they seek a (relative) deal at a difficult period, that caution may be ignored by individuals traveling to Russia, according to BBC.

West Tries To Impede Russia's Ability To Continue Ukraine War

Asian demand, particularly from China and India, is helping to mitigate some of Russia's losses. According to statistics from research company Rystad Energy, India purchased six times more Russian oil from March to May compared to the same period last year, while China's purchases tripled.

According to the International Energy Agency's most recent global oil report, India has surpassed Germany as the second-largest importer of Russian crude in the last two months. Since 2016, China has become Russia's largest crude oil market.

Former Cold War adversaries, Beijing and Moscow have increased collaboration in recent years to offset what they regard as US global domination. They launched the first road bridge connecting the two nations this month, connecting the far eastern Russian city of Blagoveshchensk to the northern Chinese city of Heihe.

During a phone discussion last week, Xi assured Putin of China's support for Russian "sovereignty and security." The Kremlin stated that the two had agreed to increase economic cooperation in the face of "illegal" Western sanctions.

In retribution for its conflict in Ukraine, the West has imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, pushing Moscow to seek new markets and suppliers to replace international enterprises that have fled the country. In late May, the European Union's 27 member states agreed on a package of measures that would suspend the majority of Russian oil shipments.

The United States has already blocked all Russian oil, but European countries rely far more on these imports. Energy is a crucial source of revenue for Putin's regime, and Western countries are attempting to isolate Moscow and limit its capacity to wage the war, as per VOA News.

China "Worries" About Ukraine War

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian crisis has sounded an alarm for mankind, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has given no hint of how it may be addressed. Beijing has not condemned Moscow's February 24 invasion of Ukraine and has criticized Western-led sanctions on Russia while attempting to protect its ties with Ukraine.

The Chinese president, who offered no remedies, was addressing at the launch of a virtual business conference ahead of the 14th BRICS summit, which will be held in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Brazil, India, and South Africa have likewise been silent on Moscow's assault on Ukraine.

Sanctions, according to Xi Jinping, are a boomerang and a double-edged sword that will only harm one's interests as well as those of others, causing hardship for everyone. In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have implemented sanctions as a result of the war.

In his brief taped statement to the forum, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro struck a diplomatic tone, lauding his administration's achievements without mentioning any other country.

China's increasingly assertive foreign policy and desire to dominate global markets have sparked outrage in the United States, Europe, and others, fueling calls to replace Chinese suppliers and diminish the world's reliance on the Chinese economy.

Xi Jinping, who has developed a close connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urged nations to collaborate on such matters, adding that efforts to "create a little courtyard with high walls" were in no one's best interests, Al Jazeera via MSN reported.