Envoy calls for dialogue to end Ukraine conflict

China on Tuesday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict and the international community to step up efforts toward a ceasefire and a political settlement, warning that continued fighting is causing mounting civilian casualties and wider spillover effects.

Speaking at a plenary meeting on "The situation in temporarily occupied Ukraine", Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the situation on the ground has continued to deteriorate since the General Assembly last discussed the issue.

"Attacks and civilian casualties have occurred frequently, while the conflict has also caused serious negative impacts on third-party countries," Sun said.

He urged the parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, strictly observe international humanitarian law and refrain from attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

At least 12 people were killed in a Russian attack on Kyiv and its surrounding region overnight on Tuesday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, Russian officials said Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russia-controlled Lugansk region killed four people and injured three others.

Sun said dialogue and negotiations remain "the only way out" of the crisis, urging relevant parties not to abandon diplomatic efforts because of difficulties or differences.

"They should remain patient, demonstrate goodwill and strive to start talking first, gradually accumulating mutual trust and consensus," he said, calling for efforts toward "a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement".

Russia and Ukraine have continued exchanges of prisoners of war and the remains of fallen soldiers, he said, adding that "every humanitarian effort adds a measure of trust between the two sides and may move dialogue and negotiations one step forward".

Sun also called on regional countries and the broader international community to undertake more mediation and confidence-building efforts, saying that "adding fuel to the fire" and exploiting the conflict to create division and confrontation would "only make a political settlement more difficult".

Addressing the causes of the conflict, Sun said relevant parties should both "look back at history and pay attention to the root causes of the crisis" and look toward the future by properly addressing each other's legitimate security concerns and working toward "a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture".

China's position on the Ukraine issue has remained consistent and clear, Sun said.

"China stands ready to work with the international community and continue making efforts toward an early ceasefire and lasting peace and stability in the region," he said.

In another development, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines and insurance companies on Tuesday that the presence of Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace dangerous to use and said it was effectively closed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the warning sounded like "state terrorism" and that Moscow would find a way to respond if it happened.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

Answering a question regarding the Russian airspace situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing urges all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, work together to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible, and create conditions for a political settlement of the crisis.

After a summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said at a news conference that it was not possible to negotiate with "terrorists".

He also said, however, that Moscow was open to talks aimed at ending, rather than freezing, the conflict.

Agencies contributed to this story.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com