Beijing, 2 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Chinese special envoy for Eurasia Li Hui has called for arms deliveries to the conflict region in Ukraine to be halted in remarks following a trip last month that took in Ukraine, Russia and several EU countries.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine had closed the door to negotiations, Li said in Beijing. "We should stop sending weapons to the battlefield, otherwise we will merely increase the risk of an escalation to the tensions," he said, according to Chinese state television.

The special envoy called for a ceasefire and peace talks, but, in line with Beijing policy, did not condemn the Russian invasion. Li pointed to the effects of the conflict on nuclear security, food supplies and humanitarian issues.

During his trip, Li held talks in Germany, Poland, France and Brussels, as well as in Ukraine and Russia.