China Criticizes US Sanctions on Russian Trade at UN

The Government of China criticized United States sanctions on trade with Russia during a United Nations Security Council meeting on January 12, 2026. Deputy Permanent Representative Sun Lei asserted that the U.S. is using the Ukraine crisis as a pretext to impose illegal unilateral sanctions and disrupt global economic relations.

China faces potential economic pressure as President Donald Trump has greenlighted legislation proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham. The bill would impose a 500 percent tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil. While China has avoided punitive tariffs for its Russian oil imports thus far, the proposed legislation targets nations continuing such trade.

During the session, Lithuania's representative, speaking for the Baltic states, alleged that Russia funds its aggression through illegal oil trade and the use of shadow fleet tankers. Sun Lei responded by calling for a sustainable European security architecture and warned that the continued spillover of the Ukraine crisis has severely impinged on the global economy.