Hopes of a reset in relations rose in the first quarter but came back to Earth with controls on critical minerals.

Expectations are rock-bottom for an EU-China summit on Thursday that will test European resolve and unity as the bloc faces intense trade pressure from both Beijing and the United States, analysts say.

European leaders will meet their Japanese and Chinese counterparts this week, with high expectations for better defense and trade cooperation with Tokyo contrasting sharply with limited hopes for discussions in Beijing.

The US ambassador to NATO said China needed to be “called out for their subsidizing” of Russia’s war in Ukraine as the Trump administration ratchets up its threat to impose tariffs if Moscow does not agree to a peace deal.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker warned on July 22 that China may face consequences for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine if Moscow rejects a peace settlement. "I think they need to be called out for their subsidizing this killing that is happening on the battlefields in Ukraine,

The Kremlin is sticking to its war demands, even as President Trump makes new threats of sanctions that would go into effect if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine in less than 50 days.