China marks Ukraine war anniversary with another call for peace
- 12-point position paper released one year on from Russian invasion calls on all parties to ‘stay rational and exercise restraint’
- Actions are needed to avoid the situation getting out of control and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further, Beijing says
“All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiralling out of control,” it said.
“All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually de-escalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire.”
The paper said the cold war mentality should be abandoned and bloc confrontation should be avoided. “The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” it said.
“Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ against other countries, so as to do their share in de-escalating the Ukraine crisis and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and better the lives of their people,” the paper said, in a swipe at the US and Europe.