Zhang Jun, Chinese ambassador to the UN, called on all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to remain restrained at an UN Security Council urgent session on Feb. 24.

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The situation in Ukraine is escalating quickly, after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized a "special operation" in Donbass region. According to media reports, explosions have been reported in multiple cities in Ukraine following Putin's announcement. 

While the Russia-Ukraine crisis is shaking the global markets with stocks diving and oil surging, some Western leaders such as Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, and US President Joe Biden condemned Russia's move. In a tweet early Thursday morning, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's move was a "reckless attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives."

Zhang Jun, Chinese ambassador to the UN, called on all parties involved in the crisis to remain restrained and avoid escalating the situation any further. 

"China believes that the door to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue has not been completely closed and should not be closed. At present, to avoid intensifying conflicts, China will continue to promote peace and talks in its own way," Zhang said. 

China has pointed out many times that the Ukraine issue has a complex history, and the evolution of the situation is the result of the combined effect of various factors, he noted. 

Civilians evacuated from eastern Ukraine are settled at a facility in Moscow, Russia on February 22, 2022. Photo: AFP

 
After Russia recognized two regions "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" in Ukraine as "sovereign states," the US and the Europe unveiled what is believed to be just the first round of sanctions on Russian individuals and institutions. 

"I believe Russia's military operation is a reaction of Moscow toward Western countries' exerting pressure on Russia for a long time, showing that Moscow can't tolerate anymore," Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, defended Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, CNN reported. 

"The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years were sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya. 

The sudden change in the Ukraine situation has aroused great concern around the world. In this regard, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recently that the legitimate security concerns of any country must be respected, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be upheld.

Some Chinese observers said the US has continued its intensive containment of Russia, which finally forced Russia to try to realize its security demands in such a way.

"How the situation will evolve, I think we need to take more time to observe. First, we need to focus on the attitude of the US, on whether Washington will launch a direct war against Russia," Yang said, noting that everything depends on how NATO will react. 

The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine issued a security alert to Chinese nationals and Chinese companies in Ukraine on Thursday, advising them to stay at home. The embassy said that in the event of a dangerous situation, they need to remain calm and ensure personal safety. 

The embassy also asked them to monitor how the situation is evolving. And if they travel long distances, they should make sure there're open gas stations along the route to refuel their vehicles. The statement reminded Chinese citizens to affix the Chinese national flag on their cars. 

"When the social order is chaotic and out of control, especially if there is a serious riot in the city, walking on the street may subject people to attack, and traffic may be blocked," the embassy warned, noting that it is best to stay home and away from windows and glass to avoid accidental injury.