OREANDA-NEWS All of China's efforts on Ukraine are aimed at paving the way for peace talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Thursday.

Wang Yi noted that China has always taken a fair position on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis and insisted on reconciliation.

"Everything we are doing is aimed at achieving one goal - paving the way for an end to the war and the start of peace negotiations," he said.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin called its goal "to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." He noted that the special operation was a forced measure, Russia "was left with no chance to act otherwise, security risks were created such that it was impossible to react by other means." According to him, Russia has been trying for 30 years to negotiate with NATO on the principles of security in Europe, but in response it faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts of pressure and blackmail, and meanwhile the alliance, despite Moscow's protests, is steadily expanding and approaching the borders of the Russian Federation.