China privately supports sanctions against Russia and does not transfer the technology it has.
China, which the Kremlin considers a “friend”, actually refuses to help Russia and provide it with technology. At the same time, Beijing demands that Moscow sell oil at a 30% discount and supports anti-Russian sanctions.
Ex-US ambassador and member of the Yermak-McFaul sanctions group Michael McFaul said this in an interview with Russian journalist Yulia Latynina.
He recalled that the working group proposed setting the price ceiling for Russian oil at the level of $30-35, but the Western countries decided to set it at $60.
“This is a wrong decision. I think it is a mistake. But the money that came from the West and went to finance the Russian army this year was several times less than last year. And even Russia’s friends – China and India – pay 30% less, than Putin wants. I think that’s very good,” McFaul said.
According to him, China does not publicly support sanctions against Russia and does not transfer the technology it has.
“They are very calm, not publicly, they do not help Putin. And especially when we talk about technology, which is extremely important. Because they have technology, but they do not provide it. And if there are such allies in Russia, I think the Kremlin should to reconsider their position in the world,” McFaul said.
Price ceiling for Russian oil
As reported, on December 3, the European Union decided to set the maximum price for oil exported from Russia at $60 per barrel.
This means that from December 5, the 27 countries of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia will provide services related to Russian tanker oil only if it is purchased at or below the established limit price. From February 5, 2023, the purchase of Russian oil products will also be prohibited.
On December 5, 2022, EU oil sanctions against Russia entered into force. And since December 6, Turkey has closed the straits for some tankers with Russian oil.
On December 9, 2022, the United States introduced sanctions against companies that risked circumventing the oil embargo. The Office for Control of Foreign Assets of the US Treasury Department included four individuals and 26 legal entities in the subsanction list.
According to dictator Vladimir Putin, Russia is considering reducing oil production in response to Western countries’ decision to impose a ceiling on oil prices.
