China dismisses Zelenskiy's claim it is supplying weapons to Russia

China's foreign ministry dismissed as "groundless" on Friday an accusation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the country had been supplying weapons to Russia, Reuters reports. 

China has never made lethal weapons available to any party to the Ukraine crisis, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference, according to Reuters.

"China's position on the Ukrainian issue has always been clear," Lin said. "It has been actively committed to promoting a ceasefire and ending the conflict, as well as encouraging peace talks."

China opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation, he said, adding that Ukraine had said publicly that most of the components in weapons imported by Russia came from the United States and other Western nations.