But no matter what the outside powers do, they should not use the fundamental interests of Ukrainians as a bargaining chip to reach a compromise. Ukraine is in urgent need of a government that, with the support of a majority of its citizens, can exercise power, properly handle central-local relations and make use of a balanced diplomacy. This can be achieved by holding general elections in the entire country. Also, Ukraine needs international help to overcome its financial difficulties as soon as possible.

As a responsible power, China wants to prevent the crisis from deteriorating into a Russia-Ukraine military conflict that could begin a new Cold War between Russia and the US. It also wants to maintain its economic interests in Ukraine and ensure a smooth transition of China-Ukraine strategic partnership irrespective of whether Kiev is pro-West or pro-Moscow.

Ukraine is the fulcrum for China to practice its diplomacy of peace and stability in Eurasia, and China has the capability of playing a unique role in ameliorating the situation in Ukraine. It already has strategic partnerships both with Russia and Ukraine, and its own political basis to deal with the crisis. China's views on the Ukrainian crisis have been appropriate, opposed neither by Ukraine nor by outside powers. The most important factor of China's diplomacy is that it does not draw an ideological line in international affairs and is not biased against any side.

China is fully capable of providing humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine. China has always honored its promise on foreign aid. The question for China is not whether, but when and how, it should get involved to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis.

The author is a research assistant at the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 03/12/2014 page10)