Any talks should be recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese leader has insisted Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that he would support an international Ukraine peace conference only if it’s recognized both by Moscow and Kiev with equal participation of all parties.

Irresponsible statements about a possible Western troop deployment to Ukraine are escalating the conflict, the Foreign Ministry has said The French leadership’s “belligerent rhetoric” and provocative statements around the Ukraine conflict are leading to further escalation, the Russian Foreign Ministry told France’s envoy in Moscow on Monday.

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