Chinese envoy: U.S. should stop shifting blame over Ukraine conflict

China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to it. China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and has always strictly controlled the export of dual-use materials, including drones, China's deputy UN Ambassador Geng Shuang said on Friday.

"We urge the U.S. to stop shifting blame on the Ukraine issue or creating confrontation, and instead play a more constructive role in promoting a ceasefire and peace talks," he told a meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine.

Geng made the remarks after acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea accused China of exporting dual-use goods to Russia, enabling its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

The United States should be ashamed of its repeated groundless accusations against China this week, Geng said. 

On Tuesday, the U.S. representative took advantage of an open debate of the council to attack and accuse China over the South China Sea issue. On Thursday, when the council held an open meeting on cooperation between the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the U.S. representative, once again, started provocation by slandering and smearing China on Xinjiang-related issues.

"Within a single week, the United States has made groundless accusations against China at the Security Council multiple times. This has proved that what the United States cares about is not maintaining international peace and security or promoting the political settlement of wars and conflicts, but rather using this council to attack and suppress other countries and engage in political manipulation to serve its own agenda," said Geng.

On the issue of Ukraine, China has been calling for a ceasefire and is committed to promoting peace talks, Geng said, adding that China's efforts have been widely recognized by the international community.

"For the United States, I would like to say that the international community needs solidarity and cooperation instead of division and confrontation in the face of so many hotspot conflicts and a complex international situation," he said.

(With input from Xinhua) 

(Cover: Photo of China's deputy UN Ambassador Geng Shuang. /VCG)