“If the West, led by the United States, has set itself the goal of defeating Russia, then it will be a very cruel and protracted war that will bring great risks to the world,” Fu Cong said in an interview with the Chinese state newspaper Global Times.
He noted that such theses as "Russia will slide down to the level of a second-rate country" are dangerous and exclude the possibility of negotiations.
The diplomat stressed that this could lead to a greater escalation.
On February 24, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published proposals to resolve the situation in Ukraine.
The plan consists of 12 points.
It calls for the start of peace talks and a ceasefire.
Also, the Chinese side opposes unilateral sanctions, which only create new problems.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he did not trust China, since Beijing did not condemn the special operation in Ukraine.