China Rejects Trump’s Call for Europe to Apply Economic Pressure Over Ukraine War

Beijing on Friday voiced strong opposition to calls for economic pressure against China, following US President Donald Trump’s appeal to European leaders to take such measures in response to the war in Ukraine.

China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or demand a withdrawal of its troops, a stance that has led many of Ukraine’s allies to suspect Beijing of quietly backing Moscow. While presenting itself as a neutral party, China has repeatedly urged an end to hostilities, while also accusing Western nations of prolonging the conflict by supplying arms to Kyiv.

During a video conference with European leaders in Paris on Thursday, Trump urged them to step up pressure on Beijing and to halt purchases of Russian oil, which he said continues to finance the war, according to a senior White House official.

Asked about Trump’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing was neither the originator nor a party to the Ukraine crisis. “We firmly oppose the practice of constantly dragging China into the matter, and we strongly oppose the imposition of so-called economic pressure on China,” Guo stated.

China and Russia had declared a “no limits partnership” just before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and their political and economic ties have only grown stronger since. Earlier this week, President Xi Jinping appeared alongside Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end — a display criticized by the European Union’s top diplomat.

China defended the event, saying the invitation of “foreign guests” aimed to unite “peace-loving countries and peoples to remember history.” When pressed by a journalist on whether Beijing considered Russia to be “peace-loving,” Guo declined to give a direct yes-or-no answer.