"All parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, work to de-escalate the situation through dialogue and consultation, and create conditions for an early ceasefire," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular briefing.

Ukraine branded Russia's strike a major ramping up of the "scale and brutality" of the war by a "crazy neighbour", while Kyiv's main backer, the United States, said that Moscow was to blame for escalating the conflict "at every turn".

Following the launch, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a "global" war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries.

In response, Beijing on Friday issued a call for calm.

"China's position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent and clear, advocating for resolving the crisis through political means and avoiding an escalation of the situation," Lin said.

China presents itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

But it remains a close political and economic ally of Russia and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war, which it has never condemned.