BEIJING, March 19, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - China said on Wednesday it welcomed all steps towards a ceasefire in Ukraine following a call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump over the war.

"The Chinese side has advocated resolving the crisis through dialogue and negotiation from the very beginning. We welcome all efforts toward a ceasefire and consider it a necessary step toward achieving peace," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.