Sanctions are not the best way to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, according to Beijing.

The comments from China’s Foreign Ministry reflect the country’s close ties with Russia. Both are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and see eye-to-eye on many global diplomatic issues.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters: “China has consistently opposed the easy use of sanctions in international relations, or using sanctions as a threat.”

But Japan’s prime minister has assured Barack Obama of his support over the Ukraine crisis.

Shinzo Abe reportedly talked on the telephone for 40 minutes with the US President who will visit Tokyo next month.

The White House said the two leaders agreed that Russia’s actions were a “threat to international peace and security.”