(VOVworld) – On Wednesday, China called for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, urging parties to implement the Minsk agreement and the heavy weapon withdrawal plan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a press briefing on Wednesday that China had always believed that a political resolution was "the only way out" of the Ukraine crisis.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei.

Hong's remarks come after top diplomats from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine met in Paris on Tuesday to push for the enforcement of the Minsk agreement.

On the same day, at a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the Minsk agreement is the first step even though it is being implemented slowly. The two leaders said they are ready to impose new sanctions on Moscow if  necessary.

On Wednesday, speaking to a TV channel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Kiev’s decision to cut off gas supplies to eastern Ukraine smacked of “genocide” and has prompted Moscow to start its own direct deliveries.