China called for a de-escalation of the war in Ukraine, warning at the United Nations that the current trajectory of the conflict is increasingly troubling. Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the fighting has entered a phase marked by more frequent military attacks and a broader pattern of escalation.
Speaking before the Security Council, Sun said recent strikes have grown in intensity, scale and range, leaving significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. He said China condemns any attack on civilians and urged the relevant parties to stop targeting civilian populations and civilian infrastructure.
The Chinese diplomat described the conflict as caught in a cycle of military confrontation and retaliation. That dynamic, he said, deepens civilian suffering, fuels hatred and makes the path back to peace negotiations more difficult.
Sun urged the parties to remain calm, act with restraint and strictly respect international humanitarian law. He said every effort should be made to reduce tensions and create the conditions for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities as soon as possible.
China also called for renewed political engagement. Sun said the parties should show patience, demonstrate political will, resume dialogue and negotiations quickly, and work toward a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement.
He added that the security concerns of each side should be addressed through the broadest possible consensus, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. China, he said, supports efforts to remove the root causes of the conflict and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture capable of supporting long-term peace and stability.
Sun said China remains committed to a political settlement of the crisis and maintains what it describes as an objective and impartial position on Ukraine. He said Beijing has kept active communication with all parties and is prepared to continue working with the international community to play a constructive role in advancing an early political solution.
