What’s new: China is concerned about the Ukrainian crisis escalating and possibly “getting out of control” and hopes the parties will resume peace talks, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart on a phone call Thursday.
“We hope Ukraine and Russia will retain hope for dialogue and negotiation and not close the door to a political solution, no matter how difficult and challenging it may be,” Qin said in a foreign ministry statement.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called China an “indispensable key power in international affairs” and said Ukraine hopes to maintain communication with the nation, according to the statement.
The background: China released a 12-point position paper concerning the crisis in February, the one-year mark of the Russia-Ukraine war, advocating for a ceasefire and calling peace talks the “only viable solution.”
Kuleba also spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, during which the two discussed “ways to expedite the delivery of artillery ammunition,” according to a Ukrainian foreign ministry statement.
Earlier this month, Qin said China has not provided weapons to either side of the war, reiterating Beijing’s neutral stance in the conflict.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Leila Hashemi (leilahashemi@caixin.com)
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