In a phone discussion with Chinese colleague Wang Yi on Saturday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized China’s “particular responsibility” for Ukraine, the ministry stated on Twitter.

China abstained from vetoing a draft United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday, a move Western countries saw as a victory for demonstrating Russia’s worldwide isolation.

According to China’s foreign ministry, Wang stated that China supports NATO, the European Union, and Russia in restarting discussions on establishing a balanced, effective, and long-term European security system.

“China does not support the use of sanctions to solve problems and is opposed to unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law,” it quoted Wang as saying on the call, in a statement issued on Sunday.

“We believe that the Council should contribute to a political solution to the current crisis, rather than instigate new confrontations,” Wang said on the call.

China had been preventing the use of expressions authorizing use of force and sanctions, he added.