EU Plans Sanctions on China Over Drone Parts Supplied to Russia

The European Union is preparing a new round of sanctions targeting China over its alleged role in supplying drone components to Russia.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Politico, citing sources within the EU’s diplomatic corps.

The sanctions package is expected to be introduced this fall in response to mounting evidence that Chinese-manufactured parts are being used in Russian military drones operating in Ukraine.

The initiative reportedly gained traction following a July investigation by Reuters, which uncovered that engines produced in China, falsely labeled as “industrial refrigeration units,” were covertly shipped to Russia via shell companies, effectively bypassing existing Western export controls.

The revelations triggered alarm in Brussels, prompting 15 EU member states to formally approach the Chinese government for clarification. However, Beijing has either denied responsibility or refused to respond, EU officials say.

One EU diplomat told Politico that the bloc has independently confirmed the data regarding Chinese components found in Russian drones, stating that China’s involvement is not only growing in volume but in strategic importance.

“It’s fair to say that without China’s support, the war would look completely different now,” the source emphasized.

The EU reportedly began reviewing evidence of such supplies even before the media exposed them, signaling a deeper level of concern and preparation than previously known.

“After August, we will push for sanctions against China. We want dialogue and concrete actions,” the diplomat added.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Sanctions Policy Commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk said that Kyiv had provided Beijing with detailed information about Chinese components found in Russian weapons. 

As The Gaze previously reported, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned China that continued imports of sanctioned Russian oil could lead to tariffs of up to 100%.