Russia and China's symbiotic relationship | Robert Spalding

Former US Air Force brigadier general Robert Spalding spoke to Aasmah Mir about the relationship between Russia and China, as it is revealed Vladimir Putin had asked China for its help in the war against Ukraine.

Asked what kind of military assistance could Russia get from China, he said: "China's defence contractors are some of the most prolific in the world. So, obviously, things like drones, which allow them to understand what the Ukrainians are doing, anything that would be useful in terms of surveillance of Ukrainian operations would be very much valued by the Russians.

"Also weapons, which includes everything from personal weapons to bombs, China is the supply chain of the world."

He added: "China's big thing is they need resources, raw materials in energy, lots of energy.

"So it turns out that Russia can provide that.

"So, it's really a good symbiotic relationship. Russia needs weapons and materials, China needs energy, they work together. And, actually, they also see the world in the same way."

General Spalding also said that he thought China's leader Xi Jinping was aware that Putin was planning a war in Ukraine. He said: "The reason I think he knew is because Putin needed that assurance that if he did it, he would have support in the event something went wrong in terms of economic sanctions."

Listen to General Spalding's interview in full on Times Radio.

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