China hopes that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will lead to peace.

China Radio International Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video conference on Tuesday (8) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. It was the first meeting between the three since France took over the presidency of the European Union and Olaf Scholz took office.

The crisis in Ukraine was the main topic of the video conference. The Chinese side expressed great concern that the Old Continent is once again experiencing the crisis of war. China hopes that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine can bring peace. Xi Jinping stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, all principles and rules of the UN Charter must be observed, and the security interests of all parties must be met. China wants to maintain communication and coordination with Germany and France to try to resolve the impasse through diplomatic means.

Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the situation in Ukraine is the biggest crisis for Europe since World War II. The two European leaders support resolving the problem through negotiations, to avoid escalating tensions and a deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Looking back at the evolution of the situation in Ukraine, we can see that NATO, led by the United States, has an inescapable responsibility. Since the Cold War, NATO has expanded fivefold eastward, increasingly threatening Russia's security. This is the root of the Ukrainian crisis. Therefore, the US must abandon Cold War thinking and assume its duties to de-escalate the situation instead of blaming or accusing others.

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of negotiations. Despite significant disagreements, both sides have reached some consensus regarding humanitarian aid. The Chinese side is appealing to all parties involved to support the negotiations and maintain tolerance to avoid a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Furthermore, China believes that sanctions are bad for everyone.

Xi Jinping said that Europe should insist on its independence in developing its own strategies. This is an issue worth reflecting on by the European side and also favors the resolution of the current crisis.

Another urgent issue is that millions of Uranians are leaving the country to enter neighboring countries, which could turn into a new refugee crisis. Therefore, all parties must engage in sincere dialogue to establish a balanced, effective, and long-term security mechanism for Europe.