China responds to Zelenskyy, denies supplying weapons to Russia

Beijing has denied providing lethal weapons to any party in the war in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he had intelligence indicating that China was supplying arms to Russia. Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, as quoted by Agence France Presse and The Guardian Quote: "The Chinese side has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict (China officially refers to Russia's war on Ukraine as a 'conflict' - ed.) and strictly controls dual-use items."

Details: On Friday, Beijing reiterated that its "position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear". "We have always actively made efforts for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks," Lin said.

Previously:

During a briefing on 17 April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, citing intelligence, that China is supplying Russia with artillery and gunpowder and is involved in manufacturing certain types of weapons on Russian territory.
China continues to position itself as a "neutral party" in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, despite criticism from Western countries that its close ties with Russia provide Moscow with crucial economic and diplomatic support.

Background:

On 8 April, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting as part of the Russian forces.

Zelenskyy instructed Ukraine's foreign minister to immediately contact Beijing and determine how China was going to respond.

The two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in eastern Ukraine by soldiers from the 81st Separate Airmobile Slobozhanska Brigade of the Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade.
The president emphasised that Ukraine is willing to exchange the captured Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity and a corresponding message had been sent.
On 11 April, Zelenskyy stated that "at least several hundred Chinese citizens are fighting as part of the Russian forces", which, he said, means that Russia is attempting to prolong the war even at the cost of Chinese lives.

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