East Asia expert Nataliya Plaksienko-Butyrska shared her opinions on Espreso TV.“It is difficult to predict what Trump and Xi will discuss, and how their negotiations regarding trade, interests, technology, semiconductors, and so on will go. So we cannot say, for example, that Trump will be able to convince Xi Jinping,” she said.The expert noted that she is very skeptical that China can be persuaded through requests or arguments that have been presented so far.“I see a different picture. Over almost four years of war, when the West and the United States maintained a firm position, China remained quiet, understood the risks, and where it could act and where it could not. When this position gradually relaxed, when aid to Ukraine became inadequate, and Russia managed to stabilize its shameful retreats,” Plaksienko-Butyrska said.In her view, China realized that it could gradually provide just enough support for Russia to sustain itself and avoid defeat.“And this support steadily increased, sometimes crossing certain red lines. For China, there was one red line — providing lethal aid. That is, direct military assistance. At least Biden spoke about this; Trump did not, but Biden and European partners said this was unacceptable because it would be catastrophic,” the expert added.Plaksienko-Butyrska emphasized that China uses other methods.“It provides more and more dual-use goods. Chinese assistance is only increasing because it notices the weakness of Western positions. With Trump coming to power, it became even clearer that Trump might threaten something but is not ready to follow through. So China can ignore threats. My belief is that only high costs — coordinated pressure from European countries and the United States — can influence China and modify its approach,” she said.The expert noted that this pressure is not only directed at China, but primarily at Putin.“Our leverage against Russia, Russia’s losses — we must not forget the parallel track, which is very important. If Russia suffers seriously and China cannot balance its support, then it might be interested in Russia stopping. For now, China provides just enough for Putin to wage a war of attrition, while the West wavers in its own relations, support for Ukraine, and approach. This creates global imbalance, and that is why I don’t see any reason for China to pressure Putin or to stop its support,” Plaksienko-Butyrska concluded.