President,

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings.

The crisis in Ukraine continues to drag on, with the situation on the battlefield intensifying and civilian suffering mounting. This is a development that no party wishes to see. All civilians must be protected, and any attacks against them must be condemned. The recent severe antagonism between the parties concerned and the spiraling escalation of military confrontation will only cause the light of peace to fade further. This trend is highly dangerous and must be reversed as soon as possible.

First, remain calm and exercise restraint, and make every effort to de-escalate the situation. Military confrontation offers no solution but deepens divisions, undermines mutual trust, and heightens the risk of further escalation beyond control. We call on the parties concerned to remain calm, exercise restraint, strictly abide by international humanitarian law, and refrain from targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian workers. Every effort should be made to de-escalate the situation and achieve a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.

Second, uphold dialogue and negotiation, and advance a political settlement. China notes the recent statements by the United States, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine regarding peace talks, as well as the existing gaps in their positions. Nevertheless, as long as talks continue, there is hope for peace. The more complex the situation, the more important it is to maintain confidence and intensify efforts. We call on all parties concerned to demonstrate political will and flexibility, and properly address each other's legitimate security concerns with a view to reaching a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement at an early date.

Third, take a long-term view and work towards achieving common security. The crisis has evolved to a stage where the underlying contradictions are highly complex, and the interests of all parties are deeply intertwined. We call on all parties concerned to uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, commit to resolving the root causes of the crisis in full compliance with the principles of the UN Charter, and work towards a balanced, effective, and sustainable regional security architecture, so as to ensure lasting peace and stability in Europe.

President,

China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. Guided by the four shoulds proposed by President Xi Jinping, we remain committed to promoting peace talks, advancing a political settlement, and creating conditions for achieving peace. China stands ready to work with the international community to strive for an early political settlement of the crisis.

Thank you, President.