Vladimir Putin has a wide network of international support for his war against Ukraine, writes Andrew Hammond. Hammond: The economic and political support of China, the military support of Iran and North Korea, or the strategic depth granted by Belarus stand out among the pillars that support the Kremlin.
China has refused to provide military support to Moscow, but the significant growth in bilateral trade is the main lifeline that has kept Russia's economy and its ability to sustain the war effort in Ukraine, he says.