ISTANBUL

Beijing on Monday urged Kyiv to “immediately correct its mistake” after Ukraine announced new sanctions targeting China and other countries.

China strongly opposes “unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law” which are not authorized by the UN Security Council, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference in Beijing.

Guo urged Ukraine to “to correct its mistake at once and undo the negative effect,” saying that Beijing will "firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday new sanctions on 53 individuals and legal entities from China, Russia, Iran and other countries.

"Restrictions have been imposed on more than 90 companies involved in extracting rare-earth and critical metals essential for the production of electronics, guidance systems, engines, and drones,” he said.

In April, Zelenskyy had claimed arresting Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.