Geng Shuang file photo: VCG

The Ukraine crisis is at a crucial stage, and all parties should move in the same direction, build greater consensus, and make greater efforts toward a political settlement, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), said at a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Friday local time. 

This was the third time in seven days that the UN Security Council had convened meetings to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

The parties to the conflict should prioritize humanitarian and livelihood needs of the people and spare no effort to protect civilians. They should strictly comply with international humanitarian law and avoid attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, Geng urged.

He added that the parties to the conflict should work toward de-escalation of the battlefield without delay, and show political will and flexibility, maintain the momentum of peace talks, making efforts to reach a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement through dialogue and negotiations.

Geng also called on the international community, especially major stakeholders, to actively push for a ceasefire, promote peace talks, create a favorable atmosphere and enabling conditions, and provide necessary assistance to facilitate a political solution to the crisis.

In another meeting on Thursday, Geng dismissed the false and slanderous narratives against China from the US as completely unacceptable, after the US representative accused China of being "the most important supplier" to Russia's war efforts.

Global Times