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Russia's war on Ukraine: the new, the old, and the immutable

At the Trump-Xi summit in May 2026 in Beijing, China's President allegedly told his American counterpart that Vladimir Putin "might end up regretting" his invasion of Ukraine. This revelation is both encouraging and disheartening. China's backing of Russia has been a major factor in sustaining the war, and a change of tune in Beijing, if it actually materializes, will have wide-ranging implications. The daunting part is that this is not the stated policy of Europe, where "might" should've been

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a signing ceremony in Beijing, China, on May 20, 2026.

About Steel production

Ukraine was the world's 13th-largest steel producer before Russia's full-scale invasion, with an annual output of approximately 21 million tons. The sector previously employed 280,000 workers and generated 12% of Ukraine's GDP. Russian attacks on metallurgical facilities have reduced steel production by over 70% since February 2022. Major plants, such as Azovstal in Mariupol, remain under Russian occupation. Others have ceased operations due to energy shortages and damaged infrastructure.

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