China Offers To Help Restore Peace In Ukraine, But Oppose US & EU Sanctions On Russia

"China supports all efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis by peaceful means," Li said, adding that "Beijing will play a positive role."

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang | (File Photo/ Getty Images)

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine has reached its 16th day, China has called for exercising utmost restraint to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Beijing wants to play a positive role to restore peace in Ukraine but it is opposed to the US and the EU sanctions against Russia, saying that it would hurt the recovering world economy.

Premier Li Keqiang, addressing a press conference during the annual parliament session in Beijing, said that China is "deeply concerned" with the happenings in Ukraine. He also said that his country has all along followed an independent policy of peace and never targeted a third party. 

"We sincerely hope that the situation will ease and peace will return at an early date," he said as quoted in PTI.

The United States of America and the European Union placed many economic sanctions on Russia after their invasion on February 24, 2022. The West also de-linked Moscow from the international banking system the SWIFT.

China was among the three nations that abstained from voting in the UN on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. When asked about China's refusal to criticise military action, Li said that utmost efforts should be made to support Russia and Ukraine in carrying forward ceasefire negotiations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is holding a virtual press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after the conclusion of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress on Friday. #TwoSessions https://t.co/wKgJVqYVwK

— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) March 11, 2022

"China supports all efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis by peaceful means," he said, adding that "Beijing will play a positive role."

China also took a stand on sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all countries saying that it should be respected. 

Speaking on the global sanctions on Russia, he said, "Reeling from the COVID, the world economy today is already struggling. Relevant sanctions will hurt the world economy. It is in no one's interest."

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his virtual summit on Tuesday, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, termed the war in Ukraine as worrisome and criticised the US and the EU sanctions against Russia.