Replying to: 
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is seen on a TV screen while addressing with a pre-recorded video message the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday. Photo: Agence France-Presse
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi appears on a screen as he delivers a speech at the opening of a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, following the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone discussion with his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday, and urged Kyiv to find a solution to the current crisis through negotiations with Moscow, China’s state media reported.
“We have consistently held the position that national sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations must be respected,” Wang was quoted by China’s state broadcaster CCTV as saying. “As for the current crisis, we call on the Ukrainian side to find a way to resolve the issue through negotiations.”
“We have always held the view that security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries, still less should regional security be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs,” Wang said in his first phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, since the war began six days ago.
A readout about the phone call released by the Ukraine foreign ministry highlighted Wang saying that China is ready to step up diplomatic efforts to end war in Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian account, Wang expressed Beijing’s readiness to make every effort to end war in Ukraine as new explosions continue to hit its capital city Kyiv. It also said that Wang reaffirmed China’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China’s diplomatic efforts, including as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and security issues for the Chinese community in Ukraine were also discussed.
Kuleba agreed to secure the safety of Chinese and other foreign citizens in Ukraine, but stressed that he also needs more pressure from their governments on Russia to stop its armed aggression, especially the shelling of Ukrainian cities.
“The immediate priority is for all parties to exercise restraint, prevent further worsening of the situation, while stepping up diplomatic efforts aiming for a political solution,” Zhang said.
He said Ukraine should serve as a bridge of exchange and communication between east and west, and not as a front line of confrontation.
