The Chinese government today called on Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks and ruled out any use of nuclear weapons in a 12-point document released a year after the armed conflict broke out.

“All parties should support Russia and Ukraine to work in this direction and resume direct dialogue as soon as possible,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in the text.

Chinese diplomacy also points out that “nuclear weapons should not be used”, referring to the threat made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘Nuclear weapons must not be used’, ‘nuclear wars must not be waged’: ‘We must oppose threats to use nuclear weapons’, says the document, titled ‘China’s position on a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis’ ».

China also asks Moscow and Kiev not to target civilians.

“The (belligerent) parties must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, refrain from attacking civilians or civilian buildings,” the text of Chinese diplomacy emphasizes. It also reiterates China’s opposition to Western sanctions.

The war in Ukraine is an extremely sensitive issue for Beijing, given the strong diplomatic and economic ties it has acquired in recent years with Moscow, driven by a common interest in counterbalancing the US.

Beijing said on Tuesday it was “very concerned” that the war was “escalating” and there was a risk of “getting out of control”.

Officially neutral, China appeals in the text to respect the national sovereignty of all states, including Ukraine, while at the same time asking the international community to take Moscow’s security concerns into account.

Western pressure on Beijing is mounting as the Chinese government has publicly neither supported nor condemned the Russian attack, but has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow on the sanctions issue.

A few days ago, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that he fears that China will supply Russia with weapons, a charge that Beijing strongly denied.