Ukrainian MP criticises trade ties with Russia as Washington’s focus shifts

Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko has issued a stark rebuke of nations maintaining commercial relations with Russia, asserting that any country continuing to trade with Moscow is effectively on the “wrong side of history”. The comments were made during an interview with France 24’s Nadia Massih on 20 May 2026, as Yasko described her nation as being “caught between diplomacy and survival”.

Yasko, a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, highlighted the deepening strategic alignment between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. She argued that Beijing remains complicit in Russia’s actions through ongoing trade, despite Kyiv’s continued hope that China could leverage its influence to play a larger role in mediation efforts.

The interview took place against the backdrop of a two-day summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by an American president to China since 2017. The diplomatic engagement underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in which Ukraine is seeking support, even as Yasko suggests that economic ties between Beijing and Moscow dilute potential diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

While acknowledging the “huge” diplomatic efforts undertaken by President Trump, Yasko noted that Ukraine has been displaced from the centre of Washington’s strategic focus. She attributed this shift to the intensifying conflicts in the Middle East and rising tensions involving Iran, which have drawn significant attention and resources away from the European theatre.

Yasko’s remarks reflect the growing sense of diplomatic isolation felt in Kyiv as major powers navigate competing global crises. The comments come as the US and China engage in high-level talks, with Ukraine hoping to maintain its position on the international agenda despite the shifting priorities of key allies.