Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

China condemns attacks on civilians in Ukraine conflict

China

China

China

China condemns attacks on civilians in Ukraine conflict

2026-05-23 16:13 Last Updated At:16:37

A Chinese envoy on Friday condemned any attacks targeting innocent civilians and called on the parties to the Ukraine conflict to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

All parties should demonstrate political will and flexibility to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council emergency meeting held at the request of the Russian Federation following reports of an attack on a dormitory in Starobilsk in the Luhansk region.

"China has noted the reports of drone attacks on a school in Starobelsk and expresses deep concerns on the casualties it caused, especially those of students. China condemns any attacks targeting innocent civilians. The lingering Ukraine crisis, the ever intensified situation in the battlefield, and the immense miseries of ordinary people, are all things that no party, including China, would like to see," said Fu.

Fu called for calm and restraint, and for the parties to strictly observe international humanitarian law, effectively protect civilians' safety, and cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, so as to promote cooling of the situation, and strive to bring hope for an early return to peace.

China's position on the Ukraine issue is objective, impartial, and consistent, Fu said, adding that Chin is willing to work with the international community and continue playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

Russian UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council that the Ukrainian drone attack on a college dorm building on Friday has killed six people dead and injured 40 others.

China condemns attacks on civilians in Ukraine conflict

China condemns attacks on civilians in Ukraine conflict

The Council of the European Union (EU) announced on Friday a one-year suspension of customs duties on key nitrogen-based fertilizers such as urea and ammonia, aiming to alleviate the impact of the Middle East crisis on EU farmers.

The blocked passage of the Strait of Hormuz, forced by the United States-Israel military operations against Iran, has disrupted about one-third of global fertilizer trade, driving up prices sharply. In April, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned that a prolonged blockade could trigger an agrifood catastrophe.

The measure is expected to save EU farmers and the fertilizer industry about 60 million euros (69.6 million U.S. dollars) in import duties, according to the Council's statement.

The tariff suspension does not apply to fertilizer products imported from Russia or Belarus. The measure will take effect on the day after its publication in the EU's Official Journal.

Currently, the EU already imports large volumes of fertilizers duty-free from countries with preferential access, but a significant volume still enters with tariff rates ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 percent.

To balance the interests of EU producers, the Council said the tariff exemption will be subject to a quota, set at the volume of most-favored-nation imports in 2024 plus 20 percent of the volumes imported from Russia and Belarus in the same year.

In 2024, the EU imported 2 million tons of ammonia and 5.9 million tons of urea, mainly used for nitrogen-based fertilizer production. Additionally, the bloc imported 6.7 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers and mixtures containing nitrogen.

EU to suspend key fertilizer tariffs

EU to suspend key fertilizer tariffs

Recommended Articles