Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has “expressed concern” about the Ukraine crisis but Beijing has refrained from taking a clear position between Russia and Ukraine despite pressure from Washington.

Wang spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday about “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine”.

“China is concerned about the evolving situation in Ukraine,” Wang said, reiterating that China’s stance on the matter had not changed and that “every country’s security concern should be respected”.