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World reactions

China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that it was extremely concerned about events in Ukraine, and it called for talks to find a political solution to the crisis.

"We condemn the recent extreme violent behavior in Ukraine and continue to urge all sides in Ukraine to peacefully resolve their disputes within a legal framework, and to protect the legal rights of all the peoples of Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

"China will keep closely monitoring developments, and calls on all sides to find a political resolution via dialogue and negotiations," the ministry said.

United Nations

In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a "gravely concerned" UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged him to quickly organize direct talks with authorities in Kiev.

"Cool heads must prevail," the UN chief said.

France

France's foreign minister called on Sunday for preparations to be suspended for the upcoming G8 summit in Sochi in June over Russian "military escalation" in Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.

"France wants preparations for the Sochi G8 summit to be suspended until our Russian partners have returned to principles compatible with those of the G7 and G8," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

United Kingdom

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said ahead of a visit to Kiev on Sunday that he had summoned the Russian ambassador to register his concerns over Moscow's "potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine".

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper threatened on Saturday that he may join Washington in snubbing the G8 summit in Russia, and he recalled his ambassador to Moscow.

"We join our allies in condemning in the strongest terms President Putin's military intervention in Ukraine," Harper said in a statement.

"These actions are a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russia's obligations under international law."

Spain

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo will cut short his visit to Iran on Sunday in order to attend EU talks on the crisis in Ukraine, the Spanish embassy in Teheran said.

Garcia-Margallo, who arrived in Teheran on Saturday for a planned four-day visit, is to attend an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran was concerned about the developments in Ukraine.

"We hope there will be a peaceful settlement to the crisis," he said.

AFP - Reuters - AP

(China Daily 03/03/2014 page11)