Calls On All Parties To Exercise Restraint, China's Ambassador To The United Nations: The Situation In Ukraine Results From Many Complex Factors

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun. (Source: FMPRC.Gov.Cn)

JAKARTA - China's envoy to the United Nations on Monday called for "all parties" to exercise restraint and avoid "creating tension" in Ukraine but stopped short of condemning the Kremlin's recognition of independence for two pro-Moscow regions in the east of the country.

Beijing is navigating a complex position as the crisis in Ukraine escalates, seeking to balance deepening ties with Moscow, with its foreign policy staunchly defending the country's sovereignty.

In a brief statement at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council late Monday, China's Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun said Beijing welcomes and encourages any efforts for a diplomatic solution, adding that all issues should be treated on an equal basis.

"The current situation in Ukraine is the result of many complex factors. China has always made its own position according to the benefits of the problem itself. We believe that all countries should resolve international disputes by peaceful means by the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter", said Zhang, reported by CNN on February 22.

The Security Council meeting comes as world leaders are desperately trying to defuse the situation in Ukraine, which underwent a rapid turnaround when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to move into the two Moscow-backed territories that broke away after recognizing them as independent territories.

Russia has for weeks said it would not attack Ukraine, and at a Security Council meeting defended its actions as an attempt "to protect and preserve the people" living in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

China has previously urged parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to return to the Minsk agreement, referring to agreements reached in 2014 and 2015, following the conflict in eastern Ukraine that enforced Kyiv's control of its border with Russia.

In comments on Saturday, while addressing the same conference in Munich, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said "the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected and safeguarded."

While not military allies, China and Russia have presented an increasingly united front against what they see as Western interference in their domestic affairs, pushing for US-led sanctions and often voting as a bloc at the United Nations.

This was underlined in the February 4 joint statement, which did not mention Ukraine, but saw China backing Russia's central request to the West, with both sides "resisting the further expansion of NATO."

On Monday evening in the US, Foreign Minister, Antony Blinken, spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, about developments in North Korea and Russia's "aggression against Ukraine", according to a brief reading from the State Department.

"The Foreign Minister underlined the need to safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", he continued.

Meanwhile, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Wang expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine. China is concerned about the evolution of the situation in Ukraine and the legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, Wang said during a phone call.

"The purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be upheld", Wang said, adding the current situation in Ukraine "is closely linked to delays" in implementing the Minsk agreement.

Amid growing criticism, Russia has been trying to get closer to China, with President Putin traveling to Beijing on February 4 to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of the Winter Olympics. The summit ended with the release of a comprehensive statement declaring "there are no limits" to relations between the two countries and "no 'forbidden' areas of cooperation."