China's Eurasia envoy Li Hui will this week visit Russia, Ukraine and the headquarters of the European Union for talks on the now two-year-old war between Moscow and Kyiv, Beijing announced on Wednesday.

Li's trip will represent "the second round of shuttle diplomacy on seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis", a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said, adding he would also go to France, Germany and Poland.

"The most urgent thing at present is to restore peace," Mao Ning said when responding to a query at the briefing. "We have never given up our efforts to promote peace, and we have never stopped our efforts to promote talks."

Li visited the region last year as part of efforts to mediate the conflict, holding talks in Moscow, Kyiv and a host of European capitals. (Agencies)