(MENAFN) Beijing has responded to Washington's alleged charges that state-run Chinese enterprises were giving non-lethal help to Russia, claiming that the United States is the "initiator and biggest promoter" of the conflict in Ukraine.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning claimed on Monday at a press briefing that if the United States government truly wants to assist the Ukrainian people and see the crisis end as quickly as possible, it should "stop sending weapons and reaping the benefits of war."

She brushed aside the allegations of help to Moscow that surfaced in Western media last week as "unfounded suspicion and accusations" and asserted that Beijing would not tolerate "groundless blackmail" or treatment of Chinese corporations differently by Washington. The reports were based on information provided by an unnamed person whom Reuters characterized as "familiar with the situation."

It was reported that the source stated. The insider went on to say that Washington had expressed its worries to Beijing and was unsure if the Chinese leadership was aware of the "activity." Noting that “what we’re seeing is non-lethal military assistance and economic support that stops short of wholesale sanctions evasion.”

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