China Becomes Key to Russian Sanctions Evasion for LNG, While Russia Blockades Ukrainian Ports

China is reportedly acting as a crucial conduit for Russia to evade Western sanctions on liquefied natural gas (LNG) through shadow-fleet transfers, potentially undermining future energy sanctions. Concurrently, Russia's sustained strikes on Odesa's port complex have created a de facto blockade, strategically strangling Ukraine's export economy and grain revenues, with potential downstream effects on global grain prices and food security.