US newspaper: China will stick to its position on Ukraine during the scheduled summit with the European Union

US media, quoting informed sources, said that China will stick to its stance on the Ukraine crisis at the upcoming summit with the European Union, and will also express its concern about NATO's expansion in Europe.

According to the American newspaper "Washington Post" , Brussels intends during the summit to warn Beijing against providing material support to Russia, noting that Beijing will resist pressure to change its position.

"The Chinese side will resist pressure to take a certain side and position in the conflict in Ukraine," a Chinese official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity.

According to the newspaper, even before the events in Ukraine, the EU was "slowly and somewhat reluctantly" taking a tougher stance on China.

And after Russia's special military operation in Ukraine and Beijing's response to it, the position of the European Union has become closer to that of the US authorities, who consider China a strategic competitor.

Chinese officials, according to the Washington Post, were surprised by this close coordination between the European Union and the United States, especially on the issue of sanctions against Russia. Another Chinese official, who was not named, told the newspaper: "The situation in Ukraine has undoubtedly pushed the views of the European Union closer to those of the United States... This will have negative consequences for both sides."

Earlier, the European Council informed that EU heads of state and government are preparing for the EU-China summit, which will be held on April 1 by default.

The European Union will be represented at the summit by the President of the European Council and the European Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. China will be represented by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Source: TASS