China renews call for direct talks as UN Security Council turns attention to Ukraine crisis

Chinese diplomatic observers said Beijing would maintain a flexible but ambiguous position and was unlikely to weigh in

China has close cooperation with both countries and will not take sides, analyst says

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Ukrainians drive in an armored personnel carrier near the frontline position in the Luhansk area in eastern Ukraine on Friday. Photo: AP

Published: 10:30pm, 29 Jan 2022

Next week’s UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine could help ease tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, but the two countries should engage in direct dialogue, according to Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun.

Tensions have risen in Europe as Russia has sent more than 100,000 combat troops to its border with Ukraine with demands for security guarantees, including that Ukraine never be allowed to join Nato.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he would move US troops to Eastern Europe and Nato countries “in the near term”, though he said the number would be “not a lot”.

The Security Council will debate the crisis at a public meeting on Monday called by the United States, a move dismissed by Russia as a “shameful” PR stunt.

Russia’s state-owned Sputnik news agency quoted Zhang as urging Ukraine and Russia to have direct talks.

“Both sides have shown a willingness to continue their negotiations, and let them settle the differences through dialogue, through negotiations,” the Chinese ambassador was quoted as saying on Friday.

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