Chinese UN envoy urges political solution to Ukraine crisis

China urges all parties to effectively implement the Geneva agreement and continue to push for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday.

"Regrettably, tension in eastern and southeastern Ukraine has worsened, with both sides more vehemently accusing each other. Threats and sanctions have again replaced dialogue and negotiations," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

The United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Unionconcluded Geneva talks on Ukraine after reaching an agreement on April 17, calling for an immediate halt of violence in the Eastern European country and practical steps to de-escalate the tension there.

China hopes all parties concerned would keep in mind the large picture of regional peace and stability, Liu said, adding that the parties should maintain restraint, persevere in dialogue and consultations, effectively implement the agreement already reached and continue to push for a political solution to the crisis "so as to achieve stability and development in Ukraine as soon as possible."

At the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Security Council on the recent developments in Ukraine, noting that situation in parts of eastern and southern Ukraine continues to deteriorate.

A group of military monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and their Ukrainian staff were captured and detained in eastern Ukrainian town of Slovyansk last week, while the mayor of Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv Gennady Kernes was shot in the back on Sunday by unknown assailants, Feltman noted.

The Ukraine crisis is a result of a complex intertwinement of historical and contemporary factors, said Liu, stressing that "a political solution is the only way out of the Ukraine crisis."

To tackle the crisis at its roots, it is necessary to consider both the current situation and historical facts, the legitimate rights, interests and demands of the various regions and ethnic communities in Ukraine, as well as the legitimate concerns of all parties so as to reach a balance in the interests of all parties, said Liu.

China's position on the question of Ukraine remains objective, impartial and responsible, said he, noting that "from the very beginning, China has called on all parties to seek a political solution through dialogue rather than confrontation and we support international mediation efforts conducive to de-escalating the situation and seeking a political solution."

"China will continue to play a constructive role in making mediation efforts and pushing for talks," he added.