Analyst Melashvili: China’s support is only reason Russia can sustain war

Giorgi Melashvili, founder of the European–Georgian Institute, said on Tuesday that Russia’s ability to continue the war is entirely dependent on support from China, a dynamic that is steadily eroding Moscow’s real sovereignty.

Melashvili said Russia has effectively become an appendage of China, particularly in recent years, as both formal and informal assistance from Beijing enables Moscow to prolong the conflict.

“Russia has turned into China’s appendage. The only reason it manages to continue this war is the support it receives from Beijing. However, this support comes at an enormous cost - real Russian sovereignty is being sacrificed, and Moscow is becoming increasingly dependent,” Melashvili said.

He added that current developments are weakening revisionist forces globally and undermining the axis formed by Russia, China, and Iran. Melashvili noted that Venezuela, once a key element in exerting pressure on the United States, has already been removed from this alignment, and similar processes are now unfolding in Iran.

“It is logical that the next stage of this process will involve Russia,” Melashvili said.