China ready to facilitate progress of Russian-Ukrainian talks

China is ready to play a constructive role in the facilitation of Russian-Ukrainian talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday.

"We will continue to play a constructive part and provide assistance for the normalization of the situation in Ukraine," he said at a briefing in response to a question by TASS as to whether Beijing was ready to serve as a guarantor of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev.

According to the diplomat, China will assist in the settlement process of the Ukrainian crisis "adhering to our own methods." "We intend to interact with each of the interested sides in order for the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine to conclude in the near future," the diplomat stressed.

The Russian-Ukrainian talks began on February 28 with several meetings between the two delegations held in Belarus. Then the negotiators continued contacts in a video format. On March 29, a new face-to-face round of talks was held in Istanbul.