China reacts to Trump admin's Russia war claim

 China hit back at the claim by Keith Kellogg that Russia's war in Ukraine would end very quickly if Beijing withdrew its support for Moscow, saying the trade relations are "normal" and that China has promoted peace talks.

Kellogg, who is President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, made the comments at a security conference in Kyiv. He called Russia the "junior partner" to China and said it is losing the war in Ukraine.

Large-scale oil purchases by China have given vital support to the Russian war economy through the biting economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing also accused the U.S. of "bullying" and threatened a firm response as the Trump administration urges NATO allies and others in the G7 to crank up the pressure on China and Russia with new tariffs and sanctions that could help force an end to the war in Ukraine.

Trump is struggling to broker a long-promised peace deal that ends Russia's ongoing war. Inducing China to exert pressure on Moscow to end the war is one means of bringing about peace in Ukraine

China Says Russia Trade 'Not Targeted' at Anyone

Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has kept a consistently objective and fair position on the Ukraine war and promoted peace talks, state-run Global Times reported.

"The majority of countries, including the U.S. and Europe, continue to engage in trade with Russia," Lin said at a regular press briefing on Monday, September 15.

The normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian enterprises comply with WTO rules and market principles, are not targeted at any third party, and should not be subject to interference or influence from any third party."

Kellogg Says Russia Is Losing Ukraine War

Kellogg spoke at the Yalta European Strategy conference in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday, September 13, and said "Russia is in fact losing this war," noting the importance of Chinese support and, to a lesser extent, North Korea.

"The Chinese have got the economic strength, they've got the military strength, they've got the history clearly behind them and the leadership behind them as well," Kellogg said.

"I think that if China cut off support for Russia today, the war would be over tomorrow."

Kellogg continued that "if Russia was doing so well, they would not have the need to bring in 10,000 North Korean troops to fight in Kursk, in Sumy, and places like that. That shows you that the Russian military has got a manpower and a fighting problem as well."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his forces are making progress toward achieving Moscow's goals in what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Moscow says it seeks to ensure Ukraine does not join NATO and is neutral for Russia's national security. Moscow also says it seeks to ensure the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are protected.

But Ukraine accuses Russia of an imperial war of aggression and trying to fold the country under Moscow's control, erasing its sovereignty and national identity.

China Threatens Response Over 'Economic Coercion'

On the call from the Trump administration for sanctions against China, Lin called it "a typical act of unilateral bullying and economic coercion, which seriously undermines international trade rules and threatens the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains."

"Facts have proven that coercion and pressure are unpopular and will not solve the problem. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out," Lin said, according to Global Times.

He added: "We firmly oppose certain parties directing the issue at China, and we firmly oppose the imposition of unlawful unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction on China."

Lin said China would take firm countermeasures if its rights and interests were harmed.