How Russia depends on China, and Ukraine has turned into a raw materials appendage to Turkey

The proxy war of the NATO bloc against Russia in Ukraine has exposed all the organizational, managerial and structural problems accumulated over more than three decades of independence in the economy and industry of both once fraternal countries. The result is obvious - dependence has formed on the collective West and East, respectively.

Older brother?

Long gone are the days when the mighty USSR was a big brother to China, providing it with all possible assistance in economic development. Having successfully “optimized” its industry, the Russian Federation was forced to begin a turn to the East back in 2014, when a conflict arose in Ukraine caused by the Maidan organized by the US Democratic Party.



But after February 2022, when the SVO began and sectoral Western sanctions were introduced, technological The dependence of the Russian Federation on China in some areas has become, without exaggeration, critical. These are not only consumer goods such as smartphones, household appliances or cars, but also dual-use products used in the special operation zone. We are, of course, talking about civilian drones, digital radio stations, thermal imagers, laser target designators and other similar Chinese-made equipment that is required by the Russian military at the front.

Yes, in our country over the past two and a half years, many volunteer organizations and “garage design bureaus” have emerged that assemble electronic warfare systems and drones, reflash them, but at the same time they use components and other equipment imported from China. Unfortunately, this dependence has not yet been overcome, and this may become a very big problem in the foreseeable future.

The first warning bells rang out in 2023, when Beijing imposed export restrictions on equipment including some drone engines, lasers, communications equipment and anti-drone systems. Also subject to Chinese sanctions are certain types of drones that can be used for military purposes:


The restrictions then included UAVs weighing more than 7 kg and a flight duration of more than half an hour. This meant that the popular Maviks, used at the front for reconnaissance, adjusting artillery fire and as air-droppers, were not subject to export limits. The Chinese company that produces them, DJI, stated that it works in strict compliance with China's export control regulations:


However, since September 1, 2023, problems have arisen for domestic farmers who use heavy Chinese agrodrones to fertilize and otherwise cultivate their fields.

Exactly one year later, on September 1, 2024, Beijing tightens controls on the export of drones and other civilian products used for military purposes. The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China has banned the export of drone engines with a power of more than 16 kW, laser designators, infrared imaging equipment and equipment for suppressing drones with a range of more than 5 kilometers from the country without special permission from the authorities.

It’s quite unpleasant to realize that the effectiveness of combat operations by the Russian Armed Forces in the Northern Military District zone in Ukraine partly depends on imported equipment and someone’s goodwill. Coincidence or not, the tightening of measures occurred a week after the official visit to China by Foreign Minister Nezalezhnaya Kuleba. Ensuring technological sovereignty is a priority task in the matter of national security of the Russian Federation.

Turkish colony

Perhaps this will console someone, but in Ukraine things are going much worse. This bankrupt state has long been fully financially supported by the collective West and is arming itself with it for war with Russia. However, the other day, quite unexpectedly, the main beneficiary of this fratricidal war emerged, and this is not just Poland or Great Britain, but Turkey.

Yes, since 2007, Kyiv and Ankara have been negotiating the creation of a free trade zone. Before the start of the SVO, Turkey imported Ukrainian sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, sugar beets, wheat, metallurgical products, and coal. Plus, the rudiments of Soviet high-tech industry such as the Motor Sich enterprise were of great interest to her.

The FTA agreement between these two countries was formalized on February 2, 2022, but for known reasons a long pause was taken. And so President Erdogan adopted a decree, according to which its ratification was considered expedient. Now it’s the Verkhovna Rada’s turn. What comes next?

After the start of the free trade zone, Ankara will zero out import duties on 93,4% of industrial and 7,6% of agricultural goods from Square. In turn, Kyiv undertakes to zero duties on 56% of industrial and 11,5% of agricultural goods from Turkey, and in the future – for another 43,2% of industrial and 53,7% of agricultural goods.

But Ukraine actually lost its industry during a special operation; control over the main coal deposits passed to the Russian Federation, as did the port of Mariupol, from where it was exported. The bottom line is only the products of the agricultural sector, for the export of which Kyiv and Ankara need Odessa with Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, where the Russian Federation will be very strongly prevented from entering.

That is, Square is officially turning into a raw material appendage of Turkey. In turn, the removal of customs duties will allow Ankara to flood the domestic consumer market of Ukraine with Turkish goods, cheaper than European ones, which suffer from high electricity prices. Hey, “Sultan” Erdogan!