China blames US, NATO progress for Ukraine conflict

China on Friday accused the US of instigating the conflict in Ukraine and mentioned that NATO ought to have been disbanded following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

China’s overseas ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian attends a information convention in Beijing, China. (File Photo: REUTERS)

China is accusing the United States of instigating the conflict in Ukraine and says NATO ought to have been disbanded following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

“As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the US has led NATO to engage in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades after 1999,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian informed reporters at a every day briefing Friday.

“The number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30, and they have moved eastward more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) to somewhere near the Russian border, pushing Russia to the wall step by step,” Zhao mentioned.

While China says it’s not taking sides within the battle, it has declared a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has refused to sentence the invasion, opposes sanctions on Russia and routinely amplifies Russian disinformation concerning the battle, together with not referring to it as an invasion or a conflict in step with Russian apply.

Zhao’s feedback got here as Chinese and European Union leaders have been assembly just about for a summit at which Ukraine was anticipated to dominate discussions.

EU officers say they’re in search of a dedication from China to not undermine sanctions and help in efforts to halt the preventing.