China reiterates call for political settlement of Ukraine crisis

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Thursday reiterated its call for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and urged all parties not to escalate hostilities.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stressed that China’s stance on the situation in Ukraine “is consistent and clear.”

“We never fuel the flames, still less, seek profit from the crisis. We do not accept blame shifting,” Guo said, noting that Beijing will “continue to play a constructive role in its own way to ease the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.”

“China calls on parties to follow the principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party, and accumulate conditions for the political settlement of the crisis,” he added.

The remarks from Beijing came after Moscow said on Wednesday that a second round of peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US will take place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 1.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during an evening address on Monday that preliminary discussions are underway for a follow-up meeting between delegations, and that these discussions indicate they would meet again on Feb. 1.

Russia, Ukraine, and the US held two days of consultations in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23–24. Both Kyiv and Washington described the talks as “constructive,” while the Kremlin said contacts had begun in a constructive manner but with “significant work ahead.”