MERICS China Podcast China and Russia – a deepening relationship? With Minna Ålander, Filip Rudnik and Eva Seiwert
Mar 6, 2026
Minna Ålander, analyst on Sino‑Russian military drills. Eva Seiwert, MERICS analyst tracking political alignment and UN voting. Filip Rudnik, energy specialist on Russia‑China trade. They discuss booming LNG flows, US sanctions and trade dynamics. They cover rising joint military drills, including submarines, and frequent high‑level diplomatic coordination. They flag key indicators to watch next year.
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China Kept Arctic LNG2 Afloat
- Chinese buyers enabled sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 to resume exports by accepting cargos despite US OFAC listing.
- Filip Rudnik noted first cargos shipped to China in August 2025, making the sanctioned project's sales channel operational again.
US Sanctions Are Selective And Strategic
- US sanction choices show uneven pressure: some major Russian oil firms were targeted while Arctic LNG2-related actors were not aggressively sanctioned.
- Filip Rudnik speculated US reluctance stems from not wanting to jeopardize talks with China or broader diplomatic channels.
Top Leaders Ramp Up Continuous Coordination
- High-level political engagement between Xi and Putin intensified in 2025 with in-person visits and multiple phone calls.
- Eva Seiwert highlighted Xi attending Putin's victory parade and Putin returning the visit, plus at least six virtual briefings between them.