ACTIONS taken by the United Nations (UN) should help cool the situation in Ukraine and facilitate diplomatic solutions, and restrain from aggravating tensions, China’s permanent representative to the UN said Sunday. Zhang Jun made the remarks at the UN Security Council (UNSC) after the council adopted Resolution 2623 on Sunday that calls for an “emergency special session” of the UN General Assembly to consider and recommend collective action on the Ukraine crisis. It is the first such a resolution the council has adopted in four decades, according to a Security Council report. “We believe the top priority now is for all parties to exercise necessary restraint to prevent the situation in Ukraine from getting worse,” Zhang said. He noted that China supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and welcomes the earliest possible direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “China also supports the European side and Russia in conducting equal-footed dialogue on European security issues, and upholding the principle of indivisible security, so as to eventually form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism,” he added. “China believes that the Security Council should give priority to regional peace and stability and the universal security of all countries, and play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine issue,” said the ambassador. The draft of the resolution, submitted by Albania and the United States, garnered support from 11 members but received a negative vote from Russia. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained. The vote by the 15-member council was procedural, so Russia could not wield its veto. During a phone call with Russian President Putin on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on all parties to drop the Cold War mentality, aiming to form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation. China has been consistent in its basic position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Xi said. Meanwhile, The European Union on Sunday announced plans to close its airspace to Russian planes. “We are proposing a prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian registered, or Russian-controlled aircraft,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “These aircraft will no more be able to land in, take off or overfly the territory of the EU.” Earlier on Sunday, France also said it would shut down its airspace to Russian airlines and Russian registered aircraft. French national airline Air France announced on its website to suspend flights to and from Russia, effective from Sunday until further notice. The airline also stated that flights between France and China, South Korea and Japan would also be temporarily suspended in order to study flight plan options enabling to avoid Russian airspace. (Xinhua) | 