“Ukraine must be a bridge connecting East and West, not a front line,” the minister said via video link.
“All parties have the right to express their concerns, and Russia’s legitimate concerns must also be respected and taken into account,” Van said.
“We hope that a solution can be found through dialogue and consultation that will really guarantee security and stability in Europe.”
The terms of the Minsk agreement must become the basis for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, the minister urged.
“We believe that we now need to return to the original settlement of the Minsk agreement, because this agreement has been reached by all parties involved, and it is a binding agreement,” Vans said.
He also stressed the need to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Let me reiterate that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of any country must be respected and protected, as this is a fundamental norm in international relations. It is in line with the goals and principles of the UN Charter, it is in line with the Chinese government’s position.” .
Washington estimates that Russia has pulled in about 130,000 troops from Ukraine’s borders. Despite this concentration of forces, Russia says it does not intend to attack Ukraine and accuses the West of causing panic.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed militant gangs in Eastern Ukraine are exchanging charges of gunfire and other ceasefire violations.
The United States has expressed concern that Moscow intends to create an excuse to invade Ukraine.
In December, Moscow issued an ultimatum to the West demanding a halt to further NATO expansion to the east and the dismantling of the Alliance’s infrastructure in the so-called new member states, restoring the status quo to 27 May 1997, the first NATO enlargement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that if Moscow does not receive the “security guarantees” he has demanded, he will have to take “military technical measures”.
However, the United States and other NATO members have stated that these demands are unacceptable and not even negotiable, but have shown readiness to talk about arms control, missile deployment and confidence-building measures.
