Western powers should take into consideration Russia’s legitimate security concerns over Ukraine, a top Chinese diplomat said.
Qu Xing, China’s ambassador to Belgium, was quoted by state news agency Xinhua late on Thursday as blaming competition between Russia and the West for the Ukraine crisis, urging western powers to “abandon the zero-sum mentality” with Russia.
He said the “nature and root cause” of the crisis was the “game” between Russia and western powers, including the United States and the European Union, Reuters reported.
He noted that external intervention by different powers accelerated the crisis and warned that Moscow would feel it was being treated unfairly if the West did not change its approach.
“The West should abandon the zero-sum mentality, and take the real security concerns of Russia into consideration,” Qu was quoted as saying.
His comments were an unusually public show of understanding from China for the Russian position, as Beijing has generally not been so willing to back Russia over Ukraine.
China has also been cautious not to be drawn into the struggle between Russia and the West over Ukraine’s future.
Qu’s comments coincide with talks between the US and its European allies over harsher sanctions against Moscow.
Qu said Washington’s involvement in Ukraine could “become a distraction in its foreign policy.”
“The US is unwilling to see its presence in any part of the world being weakened, but the fact is its resources are limited, and it will be to some extent hard work to sustain its influence in external affairs,” Qu was quoted as saying.
