China responds to permission for Ukraine to strike deep into Russia

Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian has said that in the interest of all parties involved in the conflict with Ukraine, it is crucial to halt hostilities and de-escalate tensions as soon as possible.

Lin made these remarks at a briefing by commenting on the recent decision by the White House to allow Ukraine’s military to strike deeper into Russian territory, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media. 

The spokesman emphasised that "it is in the best interests of all sides to cease fire and military actions immediately and seek a political resolution. The most important task now is to help cool the situation as quickly as possible." 

The diplomat further clarified that China supports and encourages all initiatives aimed at resolving the Ukrainian crisis and is prepared to play a constructive role in peace efforts. On November 17, US President Joe Biden authorized the use of ATACMS long-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory. 

The decision was prompted by the information about the presence of North Korean forces in Russia’s Kursk region, which "necessitated an increase in the defense of Ukrainian troops." Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that allowing strikes deep within Russian territory would signify direct NATO involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, as the missions for Western long-range missile systems can only be conducted by NATO personnel. He emphasised that Russia's Ministry of Defense is exploring various responses to this case. 

On September 12, China and Brazil jointly presented a memorandum on resolving the Ukrainian conflict. During a general political debate at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China does not "add fuel to the fire" or use the conflict in Ukraine for its own gain. Instead, he emphasised that China plays a constructive role, acting as a mediator and promoting peace talks.

By Naila Huseynova