'Completely untrue': China trashes reports of joining EU-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine

The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that Beijing might participate in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine led by EU leaders.

“I would like to emphasise that the reports in question are completely untrue, and China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear,” Politico quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun as saying.

China positions itself as a neutral party in Russia’s war on Ukraine, yet it continues to maintain strong economic and political ties with Moscow, supplying dual-use items such as body armor and drones.

On March 22, German media outlet Die Welt, citing diplomatic sources, reported that China is considering joining a peacekeeping force as part of the European-led “coalition of the willing” to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“The inclusion of China in a ‘coalition of the willing’ could potentially increase Russia’s acceptance of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine,” Die Welt quoted an unnamed EU diplomatic source as saying.

The source described the situation as “delicate.”

EU diplomatic sources claimed that Chinese diplomats are exploring Europe’s openness to Beijing’s participation in the coalition.

The “coalition of the willing” consists of allied nations led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. This coalition seeks to offer security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, potentially including a troop contingent to bolster the Ukrainian military.

Moscow has consistently opposed the presence of European or Nato troops in Ukraine.

European leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are set to meet in Paris on March 27 to continue discussing a peace plan and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Leaders part of the coalition have not shared any details of China’s potential involvement in the process.

With inputs from agencies