20 June 2025
President:
I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Vosornou for their briefings.
Recently, Russia and Ukraine held the second round of direct negotiations in Istanbul and reached consensus on exchanging the remains of fallen soldiers and seriously injured soldiers, and assisting separated children to return to their families. Relevant work is currently being promoted. China welcomes these positive developments, encourages the two sides to hold a new round of negotiations, and supports all efforts towards peace.
At the same time, China is deeply saddened and concerned about Russia and Ukraine’s continued large-scale drone and missile attacks against each other, which have caused heavy civilian casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides. As an old Chinese saying goes, a three-foot-thick ice does not form overnight. The Ukrainian crisis has dragged on until now, involving complex contradictions and stakeholders. It is not easy to achieve a ceasefire and restore peace, and it still requires the continued and unremitting efforts of the international community.
I would like to emphasize three points: First, we must do our utmost to protect civilians. Civilians, especially women and children, are the biggest victims of war. Parties to the conflict should strictly abide by international humanitarian law and avoid attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure under any circumstances. Second, we must strive to maintain the momentum of peace talks. The end point of any conflict is the negotiation table. China supports the parties to maintain contact, continue negotiations, show political will and flexibility to each other, and reach a fair, lasting, binding and acceptable peace agreement through dialogue and consultation. Third, we must create favorable conditions. The international community should issue more rational voices for ceasefire and war, and promote peace talks, and carry out more diplomatic efforts to enhance trust and mediation, so as to create a positive atmosphere for promoting an early political solution to the crisis. In this regard, we urge the United States to focus on diplomatic efforts and stop making groundless accusations.
President,
China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent, firm and clear. We always stand on the side of peace, dialogue and humanity, and support a ceasefire and a political solution. We actively carry out diplomatic mediation in accordance with the “four shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping, and have launched a “Friends of Peace” group with Brazil and other global southern countries to call for peace, build consensus on peace and promote peace efforts. China is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in promoting an early political solution to the crisis.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.