Guo Jiakun

In response to a question on the Ukraine's Foreign Ministry's summoning of China's Ambassador to raise serious concern over allegations that Chinese fighters were in the Russian army and that Chinese companies were helping Russia make military hardware, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that "We shared China's position on relevant issues. China firmly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation." 

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Ma Shengkun to express Ukraine's "serious concerns" over alleged Chinese involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine, according to Reuters on Wednesday.

According to Ukrainian media the Kyiv Post, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement that in talks with Ambassador Ma, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis claimed that "the participation of Chinese citizens in hostilities against Ukraine on the side of the aggressor state, as well as the involvement of Chinese companies in the production of military products in Russia, are of serious concern and contradict the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and China."

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times earlier that China is not a party to the Ukraine crisis, but has always been a firm promoter of resolving the crisis through diplomatic means and peaceful consultation.

China's role in building bridges and promoting talks, which has been welcomed by both Russia and Ukraine on the whole, has also been recognized and supported by a number of countries, Li said.

Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Ukraine's actions are intending to exert pressure on China and push it to distance itself from Russia. 

Earlier, President Vladimir Zelensky accused China is supplying weapons to the Russian military, according to the Kyiv Independent on Wednesday. 

"China strictly controls the export of weapons and gunpowder. The Chinese government has long made it clear that it will not provide weapons or any dual-use items, including gunpowder, to either side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This position has been consistent and unwavering," Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.

"We have worked actively for a ceasefire and to promote peace talks. We have never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and strictly controlled the export of dual-use items," the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on April 18, in response to an inquiry about a Reuters report that Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, the first time he has openly accused Beijing of direct military assistance for Moscow.