China: Looking forward to the international community creating a favorable atmosphere for peace talks on the Ukraine issue

The United Nations Security Council held a public meeting on Ukraine on the 9th. Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, spoke at the meeting and said that China looks forward to the international community creating a favorable atmosphere and playing a constructive role in the peace talks on the Ukraine issue.

Sun Lei said that the Ukraine issue is reaching a critical moment of settlement through negotiation, and the international community’s call for peace and encouragement of peace talks has become increasingly strong. Recently, various important stakeholders have carried out a series of interactive contacts and released some positive signals. China supports efforts towards peace and hopes that all relevant parties will meet each other halfway, maintain positive momentum, and promote an early political settlement of the crisis.

Sun Lei said that not long ago, the parties involved held a new round of prisoner exchanges and reached a partial humanitarian ceasefire, which helped many civilians safely evacuate from the front line and provided them with humanitarian assistance. Recently, the parties concerned have expressed their views on how to resolve the crisis politically. The international community has made many diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and talks. Russia, Ukraine and the United States will also hold a new round of trilateral talks. Relevant parties should demonstrate political will, maintain contact and communication, gradually accumulate consensus, and work together to reach a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement. There are no winners in conflict wars. All parties should learn lessons from this crisis, uphold the principle of indivisibility of security, pay attention to and properly resolve each other's legitimate security concerns, especially the root causes of conflicts, and build a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture.

Sun Lei said that China’s position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent. China has always maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties, actively carried out shuttle diplomacy, and persisted in creating conditions for peace talks and gathering consensus for peace. China is willing to work with the international community to continue to make unremitting efforts to achieve an early ceasefire and end the war and achieve long-term peace and stability in the region. (over)