Chinese envoy calls for dialogue to end Ukraine crisis

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday called for an early ceasefire and an end to hostilities in Ukraine, urging all parties concerned to pursue a political settlement through dialogue and negotiation.

Sun Lei, charge d'affaires ad interim of China's Permanent Mission to the UN, told a Security Council meeting that the continued escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict would only inflict greater suffering on civilians and further damage civilian infrastructure.

"The latest developments have once again shown that there are no winners in conflict and confrontation," Sun said, adding that an early ceasefire serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the parties concerned and meets the shared expectations of the international community.

More than 390 Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region overnight, the Russian capital's mayor said on Tuesday morning. Local authorities reported some damage to residential buildings.

Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine between late Monday and early Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian air force.

The attacks came as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected at the White House on Tuesday for talks with US President Donald Trump.

"China urges an end to all attacks against civilians and calls on the parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, strictly comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, make every effort to de-escalate the situation, and preserve hope for the early restoration of peace," Sun said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday that Russia is open to considering new ideas and proposals related to the Ukraine peace process.

"We again confirm our readiness for possible discussions, proposals, ideas, which we will be ready to consider. No one here has ever refused this," she said.

Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian civilians killed 86 people between July 15 and 24, she said. The West is actively abetting Ukraine's attacks on civilians through arms supplies, she added.

Kayoko Gotoh, director of the Europe and Central Asia Division of the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said more than 170 civilians had reportedly been killed across Ukraine in aerial attacks by Russian forces since the Security Council's July 9 meeting.

A Ukrainian source told Reuters last week that US and Ukrainian officials had been discussing a proposal for an air ceasefire to take to Russian counterparts as part of a new round of peace talks.

The Kremlin said on Monday it had not seen any specific information regarding new peace proposals.

At Monday's Security Council meeting, Sun emphasized the need to pursue common security, saying that Russia, Ukraine and other European countries are neighbors that cannot move away from one another.

"Dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable way to resolve the crisis", despite the wide differences among the parties and the difficulties facing the peace process, he said. "As long as the parties begin talks and remain committed to them, there is hope for peace."

Agencies contributed to this story.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com