China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for a political solution for the Ukraine crisis to avoid confrontations, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Efforts should be made to "ease the tense situation and avoid acceleration of confrontations and conflicts in an alternative way," Xinhua quoted Xi as telling visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Xi's comments come at a time of renewed concern over an escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. That could mean stronger economic sanctions against Russia from Europe and the United States - and harsher retaliation from Moscow.