China сuts drone sales to Ukraine, West but continues supplying Russia, Bloomberg reports
President Volodymyr Zelensky said China has stopped selling drones to Ukraine and Western countries while continuing to supply them to Russia, Bloomberg reported on May 29.
"Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians," Zelensky told reporters, referring to the popular quadcopter drone manufactured by China's DJI.
"There are production lines on Russian territory where there are Chinese representatives," he added, according to Bloomberg.
The Mavic, typically a civilian drone used for aerial photography, has been adapted by both Ukrainian and Russian forces for battlefield surveillance and as a weapon platform capable of carrying explosives.
Drones have played a decisive role in the war, with both sides using them for reconnaissance and precision attacks.
On April 7, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would scale up production of unmanned systems "to the maximum," including long-range, ground-based, and fiber-optic drones, which are resistant to electronic warfare.
Zelensky's recent remarks reportedly align with assessments from European officials. One official told Bloomberg that China has not only restricted drone exports to Ukraine and other Western buyers, but has also reduced shipments of drone components, including motor magnets, while ramping up deliveries to Russia.
"When someone is asking whether China is helping Russia, how shall we assess these steps?" Zelensky said.
Beijing has repeatedly denied aiding either side with military goods. On May 27, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also rejected claims made by Ukrainian intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko, who alleged that Beijing provided special chemicals, gunpowder, and other defense-related materials to at least 20 Russian military-industrial facilities.
Ivashchenko also said that as of early 2025, 80% of critical electronic components in Russian drones were of Chinese origin. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated that China has "never provided lethal weapons" and "strictly controls dual-use items."
Despite its claims of neutrality, Beijing has deepened economic and strategic ties with Moscow, prompting Western concerns and NATO's designation of China as a 'decisive enabler' of Russian aggression.
Read also: Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout
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Peru turns to China as US tariffs squeeze blueberry exports
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The Latest: US orders nonessential staff to leave Baghdad Embassy as Iran tensions rise
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Egypt calls on Gaza convoy participants to obtain permits for entry
Egyptian authorities on Wednesday called on activists to obtain official permits on their journey from Tunisia to the border with Gaza in solidarity with Palestinian civilians. Around 1,700 activists have set off from Tunis in buses and cars, according to the state news agency TAP, including around 200 from Algeria. They hope to travel through Libya and Egypt to reach the Rafah crossing with Gaza to protest Israel's conduct in the war. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in Cairo that the activists must submit applications through Egyptian embassies abroad, through foreign missions in Cairo or directly through organizations. "Visits to the border region must comply with strict regulations and prior coordination through official channels. Requests should be submitted in advance," the ministry said in a statement. It added that Egypt emphasizes that any delegation that bypasses these protocols will not be allowed entry. An Egyptian secuirty source said that more than 100 activists were arrested by authorities upon their arrival to the country. Among them were 52 French, 67 Algerian, 13 Moroccan and 8 Libyan nationals. Since the beginning of the war, established procedures for access to the border region with Gaza have been in place. The convoy has travelled through several cities in Tunisia and from there into neighbouring Libya. It will continue along the Mediterranean coast to Egypt and finally to Rafah. Ahmed Ghniyah, western coordinator of the "Convoy of Steadfastness," reported receiving around 400 requests from Libyan volunteers eager to join the aid convoy as it passes through the country. The activists say they want to use the convoy to draw attention to the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip and protest against Israel's attacks. The plan was for them to walk about 50 kilometers from the coastal town of Al-Arish to the Rafah border crossing on Friday. They plan to demonstrate there for several days starting on Sunday.
