Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang waves at the end of a news conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China March 7, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS)

“China hopes that all parties will remain calm, rational and restrained, and resume peace talks as soon as possible," Qin told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

Kuleba said he and Qin had discussed the "significance of the principle of territorial integrity" during the call.

Ukraine has said any plan to end the conflict must involve the withdrawal of Russian troops to Ukraine's borders in 1991, the year the Soviet Union collapsed.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Russian Putin as soon as next week and hold a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy.