China says US disrespects nations’ sovereignty after sanctions against Russia for Ukraine troop deployment
- Foreign ministry accuses US of ‘raising tensions, creating panic’ by imposing sanctions after Russia recognised rebel areas in Ukraine and moved troops there
- All sides should resolve the situation through dialogue, spokeswoman Hua Chunying says as she dismisses sanctions as ineffective
“[The Chinese government] believes that sanctions are never a fundamental and effective way to solve the problem, and China always opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
American actions were “raising tensions, creating panic and even playing up the schedule of war”, Hua said.
03:13
Russian leader Putin declares Ukraine’s rebel regions Donetsk and Luhansk ‘independent states’
“If someone is adding fuel to the fire while blaming others … then that behaviour is irresponsible and immoral.”
Putin announced on Monday that Russia had formally recognised two rebel republics in eastern Ukraine and ordered the deployment of troops there. Several Western countries condemned the move and imposed multiple sanctions on Russia.