President, 

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for her briefing. 

The Ukraine crisis has been dragging on to this day with constant new civilian casualties. This is heartbreaking. One more day of the war means one more day of harm and destruction and one more day of turmoil and instability. Under no circumstances should civilians be the target of attacks. Their safety should be protected.

At present, the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis is approaching a critical moment, and a window of peace is opening. China welcomes all efforts that will lead to a ceasefire, a necessary step towards peace. China welcomes the agreement reached between the US and Russia on having dialogue and peace talks, and welcomes the recent negotiations between Russia and the US and between Ukraine and the US in Riyadh, where positive progress was made on navigational safety in the Black Sea, a ceasefire on energy infrastructure, and Russian agricultural and fertilized exports, among others. China supports the conclusion of a just and lasting peace agreement that is binding and acceptable to all the parties concerned with the participation of all parties and stakeholders. As the fighting is taking place on the European soil, Europe ought to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis, and to find a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework, so as to achieve long-term security and stability on the European continent. 

Last September, China partnered with Brazil and other countries from the Global South to launch the Group of Friends for Peace. The Group has been consistently guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in its work to rally positive forces in support of a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Last Thursday, the Group met again at the ambassadorial level and spoke to the press, reiterating the call for an immediate and complete ceasefire and urging all parties and stakeholders to embrace the opportunity and engage constructively in peace talks. The Group believes that the shared goal must be to find a just and lasting solution, one that addresses mutual concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement acceptable to them. The UN can play a role in fostering such diplomatic efforts and in the implementation of any peace agreement. The Group members are worried about risks and crises arising from this conflict, which has caused repercussions affecting many countries, including those in the Global South. The Group is of the view that issues such as food and energy security, as well as humanitarian assistance, should be integral to the peace process. The voices of the Global South should be heard and heeded in supporting peace in the region. As the situation continues to evolve rapidly, members of the Group are committed to maintaining close engagement with one another and with all relevant parties. The Group members will strive to deepen the understanding of diverse perspectives, foster common ground, and play a constructive role in supporting all efforts toward peace. Together, the Group members stand ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and a better future for all. 

President, 

China has always maintained an objective and impartial position on the Ukraine issue. Guided by the four points on what must be done proposed by President Xi Jinping, we have actively engaged with all relevant parties to work for peace and push for talks. We will continue to work with the international community to raise the voice of reason for peace talks, create conditions and momentum for a ceasefire and peace talks, and play a positive and constructive role in achieving a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. 

Thank you, President.