BEIJING, Dec. 30-- China welcomes and supports the efforts of leaders from Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine in seeking a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday.

Hua made the comment after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's remarks on Monday that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Jan. 15 in Kazakhstan, to discuss ways out of the crisis.

Poroshenko said peace in eastern Ukraine should be established through negotiations, and Kiev is ready to hold discussions on the issue with its western and eastern partners.

China hopes parties concerned will work out a comprehensive, balanced and sustained resolution at an early date, which will accommodate the interests and concerns of all parties, for rapid realization of peace, security, stability and development in Ukraine and the whole region, said Hua at a regular press briefing.

Poroshenko's pledge for diplomacy came after at least three government soldiers and 14 anti-government troops were killed earlier Monday in battles near the airport of Donetsk city, breaking days of relative calm.

Violence has eased significantly in eastern Ukraine since a truce was brokered on Sept. 5 between Kiev and anti-government forces.

Ukrainian troops have been fighting with anti-government forces in eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions for more than eight months, which has claimed more than 4,700 lives.