President，

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Panama on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. I assure you of the Chinese delegation's full cooperation with you and your colleagues. I would also like to take this opportunity to renew our appreciation to Pakistan for its work in July.

I thank ASG Miroslav Jenča for his briefing.

At present, the Ukraine crisis is at a crucial stage. All parties should move in the same direction, build greater consensus, and make greater efforts towards a political settlement. I would like to highlight three points.

First, 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.

Second, the parties to the conflict should work towards 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.

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

President,

In the past seven days, the Security Council has discussed the Ukraine issue three times. While we spend time and energy holding repeated Council meetings, we should invest greater time and energy in mediation and promoting peace talks. Guided by the Four Shoulds proposed by President Xi Jinping, China will continue to advocate for peace and peace talks, and work along with the international community to play a positive and constructive role in achieving a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Thank you, President.