Bangladesh, July 9 -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has escalated diplomatic tensions between Brussels and Beijing, warning that Chinas growing alignment with Russia over the Ukraine conflict could have serious consequences for EU-China relations. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on July 8, von der Leyen delivered a sharp rebuke of Chinas role in what she described as enabling Moscows “war economy,” and called on Beijing to publicly denounce Russias actions in Ukraine.

Her speech reflects growing frustration within the European Union over Chinas continued neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, a position that Brussels increasingly sees as tacit support for the Kremlin. “How China con...