ANKARA

China on Thursday called the Russian military action against Ukraine a consequence of the US and NATO policies to expand toward Russia's doorstep and push a big country to the wall.

During a routine press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the deployment of advanced offensive strategic weapons by the US and NATO on the doorstep of Russia was a breach of their assurances to Moscow.

"When the US drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia's doorstep..., did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?" Xinhua News Agency quoted Hua as saying.

On Wednesday, Hua blamed the US for the current situation in Ukraine and said Washington was not abiding by its commitment.

“A key question here is what role the US, the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine, has played. If someone keeps pouring oil on the flame while accusing others of not doing their best to put out the fire, such kind of behavior is clearly irresponsible and immoral,” she said.

She added that some people in the US are attempting to distort her country's position which is unacceptable.

“Many people are asking the US: Did the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when US-led NATO bombed Belgrade? Did the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq when it launched military strikes on Baghdad on unwarranted charges? Did the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan when US drones wantonly killed innocent people in Kabul and other places? Did the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries when it instigated color revolutions and meddled in their internal affairs all around the world?

“It is hoped that the US take these questions seriously and abandon double standards,” she added.

Hua urged all parties in the Ukraine issue to resolve the current crisis through peaceful ways, saying China will continue to play its role to promote peace talks in its own way.

Russian President Vladimir Putin early Thursday announced a military intervention in Ukraine just days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine. The recognition drew international condemnation and announcements of tougher sanctions on Moscow.

There were reports of explosions in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyiv, and several military vehicles reportedly crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine.