ISTANBUL

China on Monday denied a German media report alleging discussions about its possible role in peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.

“The report is not true at all. China’s stance on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing, according to a transcript of his news conference.

Guo​​​​​​​ was responding to a report by the German outlet Welt am Sonntag that claimed Chinese diplomats had discussed the possibility of China's participation in a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine during talks in Brussels.

He also noted that the "Group of Friends for Peace" on the Ukraine crisis recently held a meeting in New York.

“They discussed the latest developments of the Ukraine crisis and the prospects for achieving lasting peace,” he said, adding that the meeting was “highly successful” and reaffirmed the resolution of the conflict through “a negotiated political solution and diplomatic means.”

“Members of the Group stressed that the conflict might be approaching a turning point and welcomed recent dynamics toward peace talks. They urged all stakeholders to play a constructive role, find a just and lasting solution — one that addresses concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement acceptable to them,” said the ministry spokesman.

Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January this year, China and Brazil launched the group on the Ukrainian crisis to gather the consensus of the Global South and create conditions for peace talks.

The meeting in New York came as the US and Russia hold negotiations to normalize ties as well as reach a ceasefire in Ukraine.