German report: China responsible for 80 per cent of sanctions evasion against Russia

The European Union says that China, including Hong Kong, is responsible for “roughly” 80 percent of sanctions against Russia, although Beijing continues to deny those charges.

According to a classified report by Germany's Foreign Ministry, which the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and state television networks NDR and WDR, EU commissioner for sanctions David O'Sullivan has declared at a meeting in Brussels this month that although sanctions have significant impact on the Russian economy, difficulties continue.

The media said on May 27th that the Chinese Embassy in Berlin has declined to comment on these accusations.

Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on 26 May accused China of continuing to supply Russian defence factories with numerous goods used for military purposes, a claim Beijing also denies.

“Kina has never given deadly weapons to either side in the conflict and strictly controls goods with double use. Ukraine understands this very well. China strongly opposes baseless accusations and political manipulation”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news conference on May 27th.

Germany's Foreign Ministry report was a summary of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Brussels 20 May.

Besides China, the report says difficulties persist with Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

As the United Arab Emirates claim exports have been halted, the report stresses that no statistics are provided and that import data suggests otherwise.

The report also adds that even EU companies are involved in avoiding sanctions, which weakens the European Commission's position in negotiations with third countries for the deployment of measures.

Reports on this issue come less than a week after the bloc took a major step towards cutting off the lead in Russian and Belarusic waste imports, adopting tariffs intended to make their purchase economically unstable within three years.

European leaders have also threatened Russia with a “minute package of sanctions if Moscow does not accept a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington.

They have suggested that the upcoming package of sanctions that would be 18th from the EU could include energy sector and financial measures. / REL/Periscopi/