(Beijing) The Chinese government called on Russia and Ukraine to resume dialogue and rejected any recourse to nuclear weapons, in a 12-point document published on Friday, a year after the start of the conflict.
“All parties should support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and resume direct dialogue as soon as possible,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The ministry also asserts that “nuclear weapons must not be used”, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has brandished this threat.
“Nuclear weapons should not be used and nuclear war should not be waged. We must oppose the threat or the use of nuclear weapons”, states the document entitled “China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis”.
China also calls on both countries to avoid any attacks on civilians.
“The parties (involved) in the conflict must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian buildings”, underlines the ministry.
This war is a delicate issue for Beijing, because of its strong diplomatic and economic ties for several years with Moscow, consolidated by the common interest of counterbalancing Washington.
China said on Tuesday it was “very worried” about the conflict which “is intensifying and even getting out of control”.
Officially neutral, China calls for respecting the sovereignty of states, including Ukraine, while urging the international community to heed Moscow’s security concerns.
But Western pressure is growing on Beijing, which has never publicly supported or criticized the Russian offensive, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
In recent days, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern that China is considering supplying weapons to Russia – allegations strongly denied by Beijing.