russian_federation_council_senate_meeting_2China hails Putin's Ukraine decision

China lauded Russian President Vladimir Putin's request to the Russian Parliament to rescind an earlier resolution authorizing the use of the country's armed forces in Ukraine on Wednesday.

"We hail President Putin's decision and other constructive efforts by the parties involved in the Ukraine crisis. We believe these efforts will work for a political solution," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in Beijing on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday unveiled a plan aiming at peacefully resolving the conflict in eastern regions, offering a unilateral ceasefire and calling on the rebels to lay down arms and start peace talks with the government in Kiev. The UN says more than 420 people have been killed in the region since April.

"China supports the parties concerned to implement ceasefire consensus and step up dialogue and consultation on the basis of the April 17 Geneva declaration," Hua said.

The declaration, signed by the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, says all sides must refrain from violence, intimidation or provocative actions as part of initial steps to restore order in the country.

Meanwhile, European leaders are set to meet in Brussels later this week to discuss a third round of sanctions against Russia. Western nations have alleged that Russia has supported the unrest in eastern Ukraine.

China called on the parties involved to seek a comprehensive political settlement and put Ukraine back on the track of stability and development, said the government spokesperson.