(Kyiv) Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, sees “no sign” that China is going to deliver arms to Russia, he said in an interview broadcast on Monday by Voice of Israel radio. America.
“I do not share this opinion,” Mr. Budanov said in this interview conducted in Ukrainian on February 25, referring to accusations by the United States – firmly denied by Beijing – that China is considering supplying weapons to the Russia to help him in his offensive against Ukraine.
“Right now, I don’t think China will agree to transfer weapons to Russia…I don’t see any sign of such things even being discussed,” he said.
Relaunched by Voice of America on the American accusations, Mr. Boudanov replied: “I am the head of the intelligence services and I base myself, with all due respect, not on the opinions of individual people, but only on facts. I do not see such facts”.
These accusations were notably launched by the director of the CIA William Burns in an interview broadcast by the CBS channel on Sunday evening, the day after Mr. Boudanov’s statements.
“We are confident that the Chinese leadership is considering supplying lethal material” to Russia, Burns told CBS.
Iran is “virtually the only country that transfers more or less serious weapons to Russia”, added Mr. Budanov. “There were reports that something came from North Korea, but we don’t have confirmation. There is not a single case where we would have registered a weapon here from North Korea,” he continued.
“Russia is just trying to buy anything anywhere. Because their problems are important”, however estimated the head of Ukrainian intelligence.