China sends humanitarian aid to war-hit Ukraine

China on Wednesday sent its first consignment of humanitarian aid to war-hit Ukraine, public broadcaster CGTN reported.

“The Red Cross Society of China, upon request, will provide the Ukrainian Red Cross with 5 million yuan ($791,465) worth of humanitarian aid, including food and daily necessities. The first batch of aid supplies left Beijing on Wednesday,” said Zhao Lijian, a ministry spokesman.

The consignment also included 1,000 family kits with supplies such as blankets, damp-proof mats, towels, cutlery, buckets and flashlights.

Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, had on Monday proposed a six-point initiative to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, including shipping humanitarian relief to Kiev, which is under attack by Russian forces since Feb. 24.

Beijing, which opposes NATO's expansion, has not condemned Moscow’s war on Ukraine but has stressed on resolving the conflict through dialogue.

It has called for joint support to peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, and “encourage the two sides to keep the momentum of negotiations, overcome difficulties, keep the talks going and bring about peaceful outcomes.”

"NATO, led by the US, has pushed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the crater, seeking hegemony," Zhao said.

Russia's war on Ukraine has drawn international condemnation, led to severe financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global companies from Russia.

Moscow retaliated to the sanctions by issuing a list of states and territories that took “unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies, and citizens.” According to the decree, overseas creditors in these countries can be paid in rubles instead of foreign currencies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ordered the government to draft a list of imports to be banned or restricted.

At least 474 civilians have been killed and 861 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to UN estimates.

Some 2 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, said the UN Refugee Agency.

- Japan sends non-lethal equipment to Ukraine

Meanwhile, Japan sent bulletproof vests and helmets to Ukraine late Tuesday, its Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

Separately, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi met Ukraine's Ambassador in Japan Sergiy Korsunsky on Wednesday, and expressed "condolences for Ukrainian soldiers fallen in the line of duty and the people who perished in war."

The ministry said Japan "absolutely opposes the Russian invasion of Ukraine which constitutes a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter, shaking the foundation of the international order."