China condemns UK sanctions on Russia over war

2026-02-25 - 10:22

China has strongly objected to the United Kingdom’s newly announced sanctions on Russia, introduced on the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. Beijing said the punitive measures should not interfere with China-Russia relations and reiterated its opposition to what it called unilateral sanctions lacking approval from the UN Security Council. Beijing rejects unilateral measures Speaking in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China consistently opposes sanctions imposed outside the framework of international law. She stressed that economic and diplomatic cooperation between China and Russia should not be disrupted by third parties. Mao added that Beijing would take “necessary measures” to defend its legitimate interests if its entities were affected. Her comments followed London’s decision to impose nearly 300 new sanctions in what British authorities described as their most extensive package since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022. The UK Foreign Office stated that the measures target key sources of Russian state revenue, including the energy sector and companies linked to military production. Scope of UK sanctions package According to British officials, 49 individuals and entities are included in the latest round, among them suppliers of drone components, technology firms and actors involved in Russia’s liquefied natural gas operations. Reports in Chinese state media indicated that some businesses and individuals from China, Iran and the United Arab Emirates were also listed. China responded with “strong dissatisfaction,” maintaining that it has promoted peace talks and a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine crisis. The Russia-Ukraine war has led to thousands of deaths and displaced millions across the region. For Türkiye, which has pursued a balanced diplomatic approach between Moscow and Kyiv and played a role in mediation efforts, escalating sanctions and countermeasures continue to shape the broader geopolitical and economic landscape in Eurasia.