Russia-Ukraine crisis: Cold War is over, Chinese foreign minister says in call for diplomatic solution

Name: Ukrainians train in self-defence in face of Russian threat as Western leaders try to defuse crisis
Uploaded: 2022-02-20T10:56:18.000Z
Duration: 3 min 18 s
Description: Ukrainians train in self-defence in face of Russian threat as Western leaders try to defuse crisis

Those questioning China’s stand on Ukraine’s territorial integrity are guilty of distortion, Wang Yi tells Munich Security Conference

But he also warns against further Nato expansion, reiterating a stance jointly upheld by presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin recently in Beijing

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A Ukrainian serviceman walks to check a trench on a position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine. Photo: AP

Kinling Lo

Published: 6:56pm, 20 Feb 2022Updated: 1:40pm, 9 Mar 2022

The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of every country must be safeguarded and “Ukraine is no exception”, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on the weekend as he warned against Nato’s eastward expansion.

“All countries’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be safeguarded because these are the basic principles in international relations established through the United Nations Constitution,” Wang told the 58th Munich Security Conference via video link on Saturday.

“This is also what China has been upholding, with no exception regarding Ukraine. If some people are still questioning where China stands on this issue, it is deliberate hype and distortion.”

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Ukrainians train in self-defence in face of Russian threat as Western leaders try to defuse crisis

However, Wang also warned against further Nato expansion, reiterating a stance jointly upheld by President Xi Jinping and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin after meeting on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympics two weeks ago.

“The Cold War ended long ago and Nato was a product of it. [Nato] should make adjustments according to the times. If Nato keeps expanding eastward, is it conducive to maintaining peace and stability in Europe?” Wang said, according to a readout of his speech released by Beijing.

He also urged Europe, Russia and the United States to agree on a road map to implement the Minsk peace accords, adding that it was the only path to solve the crisis. The 2014 and 2015 accords – brokered by France and Germany – sought to end the Russian-backed separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, but sporadic fighting continues.