Moscow, Beijing against Ukraine conflict escalation, UN-bypassing sanctions

MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - Russia and China are calling for an end to actions escalating the conflict in Ukraine, their joint statement after summit talks said.

"The sides note that resolving the Ukrainian crisis necessitates respect for the legitimate security concerns of all countries, prevention of any bloc-wide confrontation, and an end to action facilitating further flair-up of the conflict," the document, published on the Kremlin website, says.

The two sides also call for an "end to all steps facilitating tension escalation and protraction of hostilities and avoidance of a further degradation of the crisis, right up to a point of it moving into an unmanageable phase."

"The sides are against all unilateral sanctions imposed to get around the UN Security Council," the document says.