During a tense high-level meeting in Brussels, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas that Beijing cannot allow Russia to lose in its war against Ukraine. According to several sources cited by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on 4 July, China fears that such an outcome would allow the United States to fully pivot its attention to Beijing.

SCMP reports that during a four-hour closed-door discussion with EU officials on 2 July, Wang Yi said a Russian defeat in Ukraine was strategically unacceptable for China. This comment to Kallas — who assumed her EU role in late 2024 — echoed what many in Brussels suspected to be Beijing’s true position but contradicted China’s public statements claiming it is “not a party” to the war.

Wang rejected accusations that China is supporting Russia militarily or financially, asserting that if it had been doing so, the war would have ended already. Some EU officials saw Wang’s tone as a harsh dose of realpolitik, designed to pressure the EU to reconsider its support for Ukraine.

Diplomatic friction intensifies

EU diplomats were surprised by Wang’s bluntness, especially just weeks before the scheduled summit in China on 24 and 25 July. SCMP sources said Wang hinted the summit could be shortened, a possible warning over the bloc’s ongoing stance.

On the same day, Wang also met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to EU sources, all three European leaders shared a unified stance across all major points.

A major point of contention remains the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Moscow, which includes plans to blacklist two small Chinese banks over violations of existing Russia sanctions. Wang reportedly vowed multiple times to retaliate if these sanctions are approved by the bloc’s 27 member states.

China’s version softens the narrative

Beijing’s official account of the meeting with Kallas significantly downplayed tensions. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, “There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU, and they have broad common interests.” It emphasized mutual respect, learning, and cooperation, without addressing the contentious topics raised during the meeting.