China urges ‘ceasefire through dialogue’ after Putin’s address

China on Wednesday urged both sides to engage in a ceasefire through negotiation and consultation after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilisation” to fight in Ukraine with immediate effect.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a press briefing said, “We call on the relevant parties to realise a ceasefire through dialogue and consultation, and find a solution that accommodates the legitimate security concerns of all parties as soon as possible.”

“China calls on relevant parties to properly resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, and is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation,” the Chinese foreign minister added.

Earlier, Putin said that a decision authorising the partial mobilisation of the country’s two million-strong military reserves for use in the Ukraine conflict had been signed. Putin claimed that the choice was made in order to “protect the homeland, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity” of Russia.

“We are talking about partial mobilisation, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military speciality and relevant experience,” Putin said.

A day after the Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced their intention to hold referendums on whether they wanted to join Russia, Putin gave his address to the country.

A “no-limits” friendship between China and Russia, which they both describe as being very tight, serves as a check on American dominance in the world. On the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping of China met in Uzbekistan last week.