BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China on Friday denounced sanctions imposed by the Western countries against Russia over the military operation in Ukraine as “illegal”, blaming Washington for escalating tensions between the two former Soviet neighbors. “The United States has been sending weapons to Ukraine, heightening tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of warfare,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said. “In stark contrast, China has all along called on all parties to respect and attach importance to each other’s legitimate security concerns, strive to resolve issues through negotiation and consultation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.”