In Osteuropa 7-9/2023

Whose Bread I Eat, Whose Song I Do Not Sing
China, Russia, and Ukraine

Mattia Nelles

Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

China is Ukraine’s largest trading partner. Almost ten percent of Ukraine’s agricultural land is leased to Chinese companies. Ukraine is China’s most important supplier of corn and barley. China, too, therefore suffers from Russia’s disruption of Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea. Nonetheless, Beijing is not lobbying Moscow to resume the grain export agreement, nor is it committed to persuading Russia to end the war and withdraw from Ukraine. China is pursuing a policy of “pro-Russian neutrality.” It is willing to sacrifice its own interests in Ukraine to achieve this.

(Osteuropa 7-9/2023, pp. 333–342)