China-Ukraine infrastructure deal a surprise for observers of Beijing, Kyiv and Moscow geopolitics

China and Ukraine have a complicated past but they have signed a new deal to work together on roads, bridges and railway projects

Growing speculation suggests Beijing used vaccine diplomacy to pressure Kyiv to withdraw from a statement on Xinjiang signed by over 40 countries

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Beijing announced on July 4 it had signed an agreement with Ukraine encouraging companies and financial institutions from both countries to cooperate” on roads, bridges and railways projects. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Published: 12:00pm, 11 Jul 2021Updated: 10:23pm, 11 Jul 2021

Ukraine is banking on economic support from China as the two sides agree to work together on infrastructure, but observers say that cooperation will be limited when it comes to critical projects.

In a move that caught many diplomatic observers by surprise, Beijing announced on July 4 it had signed an agreement with Ukraine encouraging companies and financial institutions from both countries to “actively cooperate” on roads, bridges and railways projects.

The agreement, which was signed on June 30, was the latest rapprochement between Beijing and Kyiv, whose foreign policy was considered pro-Western since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Days before the signing, Ukraine abruptly withdrew its endorsement of a joint statement calling for an independent United Nations investigation into human rights abuses in Xinjiang. More than 40 countries – including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan – supported the call. Beijing welcomed Ukraine’s withdrawal from the statement.

Neither Beijing nor Kyiv has explained how they arrived at their new agreement but there has been growing speculation that Beijing used vaccine diplomacy to pressure Kyiv to change its position on the Xinjiang statement.

The latest episode shed light on the relationship between China and Ukraine, which has been complicated since pro-democracy revolutions in Ukraine starting in 2004. This political complexity is contrasted against their close economic ties and active cooperation, particularly in military technology. Ukraine has long been a key supplier of modern jet engines for the People’s Liberation Army.

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