China on Friday called on parties concerned to press ahead with political settlement of the Ukraine crisis in order to achieve peace and tranquillity in Ukraine at an early date.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the call at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, saying that China believes that dialogue and consultation is the only solution to the Ukraine issue.

Noting the recent deteriorating situation in eastern Ukraine, Liu said China called on parties concerned to keep calm and exercise restraint and consolidate the hard-won ceasefire.

"China calls on parties concerned to make joint efforts to find as soon as possible a comprehensive balance and a lasting political solution so as to achieve peace, tranquillity, stability and development in Ukraine and the region as a whole," said the envoy.

Dozens of people were killed in eastern Ukraine as fighting flared up on Wednesday in the restive areas, putting additional strain on a four-month-old ceasefire.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman told the council that Wednesday's deadly clashes around Mariynka, Ukraine killed 28 people, including nine civilians, a sharp increase in casualties since the signing of the package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreement in February.

"We are either looking at a return to a deepening, intractable conflict or a momentary upsurge in parts of the conflict zone," he said, adding "We cannot afford either scenario."

The government-controlled Mariynka town, which lies 30 kilometers west of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, became the new hotspot of fighting in eastern Ukraine, after the warring sides exchanged artillery rounds into each other using heavy weapons, which is banned under the Minsk peace agreement.

The new round of violence added to worries about the shaky ceasefire reached in mid-February to end the conflict, which has already killed 6,400 people. Endite

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