China has dismissed accusations by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the country is supplying weapons to Russia, calling them “groundless”. The comments come after Zelenskyy claimed China was providing gunpowder and artillery to Russia, and that Chinese representatives were involved in their production on Russian territory.
In a press briefing, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China had never made lethal weapons available to any party in the Ukraine crisis. He reiterated China’s commitment to promoting a ceasefire and encouraging peace talks.
Zelenskyy made the accusations at a press conference, citing information from his country about China’s alleged assistance. However, China maintains it is a neutral party in the conflict, with ties between its leader Xi Jinping and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. Beijing says it warns its citizens to stay away from all conflict zones.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies, freezing their assets in the country, following Zelenskyy’s claims. The accusations have sparked tension between the two countries, but China remains firm in its denial of involvement in Russia’s military efforts.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/china-dismisses-zelenskyy-claim-supply-weapons-russia