China needs Russia to remain a credible military threat to Europe

Justin Bronk, a research fellow at London's Royal United Services Institute, said the issue of how far President Xi could be willing to go to support his friend, Vladimir Putin, was a 'key question'. He says that while China's leaders remain 'uncomfortable' about Russia's invasion, it is 'highly likely' they will begin supplying the country with weapons at some point in the long term, perhaps by taking advantage of a ceasefire. He also examines what form this support could take and what it could mean for Ukraine's fight for freedom.