China strongly condemned the European Union on Thursday following its latest sanctions against Russia, emphasizing that dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable path to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a Beijing press conference that China “firmly opposes” the EU’s decision and has lodged serious protests. He stressed that China is not the creator of the crisis, nor is it a party to the conflict.
The EU’s 19th sanctions package targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in India and China, among others, as part of its ongoing effort to pressure Moscow.
“China is committed to promoting peace talks, has never supplied lethal weapons to any party, and exercises strict control over exports of dual-use items,” Guo stated. He urged the EU to stop making China an issue and avoid undermining bilateral relations.
Guo further warned that coercion and pressure will not solve the conflict, noting that the EU’s actions are detrimental to stable China-EU relations.
The announcement comes a day after the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment” to peace negotiations.
The Russia-Ukraine war has now lasted more than three years, leaving millions dead, wounded, or displaced, and global efforts for a negotiated settlement continue amid mounting geopolitical tensions.
