China, Belarus call for ceasefire in Ukraine

The joint call arrived after the adoption of the Beijing Peace Plan issued last week that required respect for national sovereignty and “territorial integrity”. The 12-point document did not say what would happen to regions Russia has occupied since the invasion.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying:

China's “The essence of the stance is to call for peace and encourage talks ... and that the legitimate security concerns of all countries be respected”.

Referring to the US and its allies, he added:

The relevant “countries must ban the politicisation and use of the world economy as their means, and take measures to prove a ceasefire and stop the war and resolve the crisis peacefully”.

Belarus “fully agrees and supports China's position and proposals for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, which is of great importance for resolving the” crisis, CCTV quoted Lukashenko as saying./Periscopi/