The Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gangduring a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kulebacall today the Kyiv and Moscow resume peace negotiations “as soon as possible”, according to Beijing.

“China is afraid that the crisis will worsen and become uncontrollable”Chin said, according to a statement issued by his ministry.

China “hopes that all sides will keep calm, exercise restraint, resume peace negotiations as soon as possible and return to the path of a political settlement.”

“We discussed the importance of the principle of territorial integrity,” Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

It is the first official conversation between the two men since Qin Gang became foreign minister in late December.

At the end of February, China had published a 12-point document already calling on Moscow and Kiev to go ahead with peace talks.

The text also opposes any use of a nuclear weapon and calls for the territorial integrity of all countries to be respected — also hinting at the integrity of Ukraine, part of whose territory is under Russian control.

Westerners took the Chinese document with reservations as China, which is officially neutral, has never publicly condemned Russia.

Chinese diplomacy seeks to assert itself as a mediator in this conflict. However, several Western countries exclude it from this role because of its positioning as a close partner of Moscow.

Qin Gang today reiterated his support for China’s 12-point document, while stating that Beijing had so far “maintained an objective and fair position on the Ukrainian issue.”

“China will continue to play a constructive role to achieve a ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities, to defuse the crisis and ensure a return to peace,” underlined.

“We hope that Ukraine and Russia (…) whatever the difficulties and challenges, they will not close the door to a political settlement.”

China, recently accused by the US of considering supplying arms to Russia, has categorically denied any such intentions.