Mike Baker

That reporting also said hundreds of Chinese troops would receive training in Russia as part of the same arrangement.

Now, this may not come as a surprise, but Beijing is denying all of it.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian rejected the allegation Tuesday, calling it groundless and a smear.

He said, quote, the relevant claim has no factual basis and is nothing but defamation and slander, end quote.

He then winked, snickered, and walked away from the podium.

No, he didn't.

Come on.

China has long insisted that it's neutral in the war in Ukraine, and they do that with a straight face.

But European officials increasingly see Beijing as one of Moscow's most important lifelines.

Not necessarily because Russia is sending tanks or missiles directly to the Russian front line, but because Chinese trade and technology and dual-use exports have helped keep Russia's war machine functioning.

Kallas said a phrase that we've heard more often from Western officials in recent months.

She called Beijing a, quote, decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine.

And that takes us to the bigger point here.

On Monday, the European Council announced a new round of sanctions targeting 21 entities and seven individuals globally.

accused of supporting Russia's military-industrial base.

Among them were several Chinese-linked companies, including companies supplying drone-related components and technology to Russia, as well as others providing key products and materials to maintain Russian military vehicles, weapon systems, and heavy equipment.

A Hong Kong firm, Nord Access Limited, was also targeted over alleged links to Russia's so-called Shadow Fleet, a network, of course, of tankers used to move Russian oil despite Western restrictions.

EU leaders are already weighing a tougher strategy toward China, not only over Ukraine, but also over the issue of trade.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week that the EU recorded its largest-ever trade deficit with China last year, around €360 billion, or roughly US$418 billion.

She said that imbalance is not sustainable.