Russia has become so economically isolated that China could order the end of war in Ukraine

It is hard to win a war with only North Korea and Iran on your side. In short, this means that China is now in a position to demand anything from Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) before their talks in Beijing in May 2024. China has the upper hand over Russia when it comes to trade now. Photo: Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik via AP

Western leaders are becoming increasingly frustrated by China’s role in enabling the war in Ukraine. Some have even openly threatened to sanction the country if it continues to provide Russia with the materials it needs to build more weapons.

And they are right to focus on China’s position of power. Russia is now so dependent on the only major economy still taking the risk to support its regime, that China could effectively force Vladimir Putin to end the conflict.