The broader the differences, the greater dialogue is needed

Photo taken on March 7, 2022 shows a view of the third round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. [Photo/Xinhua]  

This is an editorial from China Daily.

It is a good sign that the warring parties in Ukraine are trying to end the fighting through diplomatic efforts.

Although the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia ended in Belarus on Monday with no breakthroughs being made, that the two sides have held three rounds of negotiations — the previous two being on Feb 28 and March 3 — since the conflict started on Feb 24, with both saying they want to continue their dialogue, shows neither of them wants the war to drag on.

Reportedly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba have agreed to meet on Thursday. And importantly, the three rounds of negotiations have not been a waste of time. The negotiators of the Ukrainian side have said that the two sides are engaged in continual intensive consultations on a cease-fire and security guarantees, while Russia's top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said the talks will continue, and "we hope that we will be able to make a more significant step forward next time".

All wars have an end. They end quicker if negotiations are able to secure a cease-fire that allows calmer heads to resolve differences. At the moment it is crucial that the two sides are trying to pause the fighting so they can talk.

In his telephone conversation with Josep Borrell, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy on Monday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on other parties to support this goal rather than pouring oil on fire by imposing sanctions and providing weapons, which will "only further complicate and amplify the situation". Noting that he hoped that the international community would support Russia and Ukraine engaging in sincere negotiations, Wang said that China is willing to play a constructive role within its ability to help de-escalate the situation. He called on the EU to also hold talks with Russia on European security issues, with the aim of forming a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.

Regrettably, the US administration is working with the opposite intent. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who traveled to Belgium, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and France from March 3 to 8, has spent most of his time hyping up Russia as a threat and further aggravating the estrangement between Russia and the EU.

The US is aware of how to help bring peace to Ukraine as soon as possible. But it is still delivering weapons, imposing sanctions and spreading hatred and fear as it seeks to unite the divide at home, divide the unity in Europe and divert attention from its failings ahead of the mid-term elections.

Lamenting the fact that the situation in Ukraine has come to this stage, China is willing to work with the international community to carry out mediation with the aim of solving the problems, not promoting empty talk that simply reinforces the existing animosities.