Mr. President,

I thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing, and I thank Mr. Haiphong for his briefing.

The Security Council has considered on multiple meetings the issue of arms supply to Ukraine, and China has expressed its position and propositions many times. In particular, we found the dire consequences of continuous provision of weapons to the battlefield worrying and disconcerting. Currently, the massive influx of weapons and equipment to the battlefield persists with expanding spillover effect, making the hope of ceasing hostilities more remote.

Weapons may be used to win the war, but they cannot win peace. Restoring peace requires dialogue and consultation. For some time now, an increasing number of countries have raised their voice of reason and proposed peace initiatives. We hope that relevant parties will respond positively to the call of the international community, keep calm and maintain restraint, refrain from escalation of tensions, step up engagement, galvanize consensus, and gradually create conditions for the final settlement of the crisis.

On the issue of Ukraine, China has been consistently standing on the side of peace and dialogue, and actively promoting peace talks. We are firmly convinced that in the face of difficulties, it is all the more necessary to leave space for peace, and especially when divergences are acute, efforts to promote dialogue must not be renounced. Saudi Arabia has recently hosted an international meeting on the Ukraine issue. The Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs attended the meeting, carried out extensive engagement and communication with all parties, and elaborated on China's position and propositions. China will continue to work on the basis of our position paper, namely China's position on the political settlement of Ukraine crisis, step up dialogue and communication with all parties, and play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Thank you, Mr. President.