Chinese president Xi Jinping has called for 'maximum restraint' in Ukraine, marking his strongest statement on the ongoing conflict so far.
According state broadcaster CCTV, President Xi made his statement during a virtual meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday, March 8, where he described the situation in Ukraine as 'worrying'.
During the meeting, Xi reportedly urged the three countries to come together to support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying China was 'pained to see the flames of war reignited in Europe'.
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China also confirmed it was sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the wake of the conflict, MailOnline reports.
The news suggests an the beginnings of a split between the nations, as Beijing appears to become increasingly critical of Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine, having earlier refused to condemn the Russian president's actions or call it an invasion. That being said, Xi still hasn't explicitly condemned Putin's war, clear in his vocal opposition to international sanctions against Russia.
President Xi said what is happening in Ukraine is 'worrying' and actions must be taken to avoid it 'spinning out of control', Reuters reports.
China has been critical of the sanctions imposed by the likes of the US, European Union, UK and Canada in the wake of the war, with major banks, oligarchs and airlines hit with a wall of economically-crippling packages.
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Denouncing the international sanctions against Russia, President Xi said they 'dampen the global economy that is already ravaged by the pandemic', something in the 'interest of no one', as per a Chinese embassy’s readout.
The news comes as more than two million refugees are confirmed to have fled the conflict, amid difficulties opening humanitarian corridors.
The Kremlin has denied an invasion, instead claiming the 'special military operation' aimed to 'demilitarize and denazify Ukraine'. Both Ukraine and Western leaders have slammed this as baseless and merely an attempt to justify the invasion.
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If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: China, Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, World News
Chloe Rowland