China: Russia's security concerns ‘should be taken seriously’

China has urged the United States to remain calm and refrain from actions that stir up tensions over Ukraine, stressing that Russia's security concerns in Europe should be "taken seriously," amid a brewing crisis between Moscow and the West.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, as they discussed the growing tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

"All parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality and form a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation," Wang said. "Russia’s reasonable security concerns should be taken seriously and resolved."

He also noted that "regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs," in a nod to Moscow's concerns about NATO's eastward expansion.

In response, Blinken told his Chinese counterpart that "de-escalation and diplomacy" was the only way to resolve the ongoing crisis, adding that a Russian "invasion" of Ukraine would lead to "global security and economic risks."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Washington of fueling tensions over Ukraine, stressing that Moscow was watching US actions with great concern.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia's main security demands had not been taken into account by Washington.

Russia has already warned of "appropriate measures" against the West if the Kremlin doesn't receive a constructive response from the United States on its security demands.

Russia has demanded legally binding guarantees from NATO that it will halt its eastward expansion and return to its 1997 borders. Moscow also demands that the military alliance never admit Ukraine as a member.

Earlier this month, American and Russian diplomats held talks to resolve the crisis over Ukraine but failed to make a breakthrough. However, they agreed to continue the talks.

SS