On 30 March 2026, in close cooperation with the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union, we were pleased to organise the roundtable discussion on Russia's evolving relations with China.
Held under Chatham House rules, the exchange explored how Russia's dependence on China has deepened since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while longstanding mistrust and diverging interests continue to shape the relationship.
Participants reflected on the strategic dynamics between Moscow and Beijing, including Russia's efforts to diversify its dependencies and China's sensitivity to the economic and political costs of its support for Russia, as well as the implications for the EU's approach towards both.
We would like to thank Ambassador Michał Mazur for delivering the opening remarks, as well as Una Aleksandra Berzina-Cerenkova (Latvian Institute of International Affairs), Michael Thumann (DIE ZEIT), Diana Zahorte (European External Action Service), and Ondřej Ditrych (EU Institute for Security Studies) for sharing their expertise. The discussion was moderated by Tim Rühlig (EU Institute for Security Studies).
A valuable opportunity for informed and timely exchange on a highly relevant geopolitical issue.
