Russia Asks China for Help Against Ukraine, Like the Paper Tiger it is

Photo by Vladyslav Melnyk on Unsplash

As Russia faces increasing external pressure for its invasion of Ukraine, it also continues to face backlash from many of its citizens, too. Recently, an employee of a Russian state news channel interrupted a public broadcast to protest against the war. Thousands are fleeing Russia in protest, leading to a “brain drain” effect impacting the Russian IT sector, in which educated and skilled IT professionals are emigrating abroad. Certain foreign companies are currently under Kremlin scrutiny, having received threats from the Russian leadership.

Meanwhile, Russian troops have reportedly destroyed the city of Volnovakha in Ukraine. However, this has only served to further anger the Ukrainian populace. Refugees have been observed coming back to Ukraine to fight, inspired by Zelensky’s determination to fight on. Captain Alexey Glushchak, a Russian GRU spy, has been killed in Mariupol. However, the Russian government has so far refused to reveal to the world the circumstances of his death, which has elicited a heavy speculation and suspicion.

Desperate for a quick victory, Putin has resorted to asking China for military aid against Ukraine. Such a request, made not three weeks since the start of the war, has exposed his military for the paper tiger that it really is. On the other hand, however, this spells trouble for the West. If China were to join the war on Russia’s side, it would only be a matter of time until this escalates into a global conflict. In response, the US has attempted to deter China from helping Russia — militarily or economically — by warning that it will impose sanctions on China too, should the situation call for it.

Putin’s continued aggression has only made everything worse. Showing utter disregard for international law, Russia has boycotted last week’s UN court hearing. In an attack on western Ukraine, Russian planes began to drop bombs dangerously close to the Polish border, quite possibly in an attempt to provoke Poland, and — by extension — NATO. With quite a few of his oligarchs speaking out against the war, a regime change in Russia seems to no longer be a matter of if, but when.