China on Tuesday rejected allegations from the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing may have trained Russian military personnel now fighting in Ukraine, calling the accusations "groundless" and a "pure smear."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian pushed back at a regular news briefing when asked about remarks by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Earlier Kallas said the bloc was verifying reports that Chinese forces had provided training to Russian troops deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

"The relevant claim has no factual basis and is nothing but defamation and slander," Lin said.