China edges closer to sending lethal aid to Russia as UN votes to condemn invasion of Ukraine: report

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., says Xi Jinping is turning Vladimir Putin into his'junior partner.' Russia is in talks with China to purchase 100 combat drones, according to a new report published just days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had evidence Beijing was weighing lethal aid to Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Der Spiegel reports that Moscow is looking to commission a Chinese manufacturer to mass produce the drones – with a delivery date as early as April. Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Chinese Communist Party's foreign policy chief Wang Yi during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Per the report, Xian Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology, a Chinese drone manufacturer, has said it was prepared to make 100 prototypes of its ZT-180 drone, which carry a 35-50kg warhead. The drones are similar to Iran's Shaheed-136, which Russia has used to kill hundreds of Ukrainians and damage infrastructure.