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A top Chinese official has rejected accusations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that China is undermining the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland with Russia.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “China has never fanned fire or fueled the flames,” stressing the country’s commitment to peace efforts around the Russia-Ukraine war. The ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, added that China’s stance on the peace conference is “open and transparent.”

The peace summit, scheduled for June 15-16 in Burgenstock, has confirmed the attendance of over 80 delegations, aiming to set the stage for a peace process more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Speaking in Singapore, Zelensky accused China and Russia of pressuring other nations not to participate. He said, “Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit.”

China claims neutrality in the war but has strengthened ties with Moscow since the invasion. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, where their discussions included ceremonial activities and trade agreements that have softened the blow of Western sanctions on Russia. Although China denies directly arming Russia, intelligence reports from the US, Ukraine, and other agencies indicate that Chinese components have been found in Russian weaponry.

Despite hopes from Switzerland that China would attend the peace conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed last week that Beijing would not participate. Beijing advocates for a peace conference with “equal participation” of all parties, including Russia, which has been excluded from the event.