China has condemned new European Union sanctions targeting Chinese companies accused of aiding Russia, calling the move unjustified and harmful to bilateral relations, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

At a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China "strongly deplores and firmly rejects" the EU's decision to impose restrictions on 12 Chinese and three Indian firms allegedly linked to Russian drone production.

Mr Guo said China has lodged formal protests with the EU, stressing that "China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is China a party to it." He added that China does not supply lethal weapons and strictly controls exports of dual-use items.

He noted that most countries, including EU members and the US, continue to trade with Russia. He said the EU has no grounds to criticise normal exchanges between Chinese and Russian companies.

Mr Guo urged the EU to stop targeting China and harming its interests, warning that the sanctions are detrimental to the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.