UNITED NATIONS, April 12. /TASS/. China is ready to provide Russia and Ukraine with the necessary conditions for negotiations, China’s deputy ambassador to the UN has said.

"China advocates the timely convening of an international conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with the equal participation of all parties to discuss all peace options on a fair basis. We are ready to provide Russia and Ukraine with the necessary conditions for negotiations and will exert unremitting efforts for the sake of an early political settlement of the crisis," Geng Shuang told the UN Security Council.

According to Geng, "further weapon supplies to the battlefield only increase the risk of worsening the crisis and by no means promotes de-escalation."

"It is better to end the war through negotiations rather than go ahead with the conflict. China once again calls on all parties concerned to step up diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and put an end to hostilities, so as to promote an early political settlement of the crisis and the advent of peace," Geng stressed.

The Chinese diplomat noted that "the crisis in Ukraine has complex historical and practical reasons."

"In fact, it is at the stage of a major outbreak of security conflicts in Europe. We have not supplied lethal weapons or equipment to either side of the conflict. Nor have we done or will we do anything to capitalize on the crisis. China's position on the Ukrainian issue has always been consistent and clear. China has always insisted on support for peace and promotion of peace talks," he explained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a February interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that Russia had never given up on a dialogue on Ukraine, but that it was not going to make the first step after the disruption of the talks in Istanbul in March 2022.