Ukrainian President Zelensky, while Speaking on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, signalled that China was involved in the search for peace. He expressed his belief that China will not supply weapons to Russia. Additionally, China is planning to call for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty.
However, the 12-point document does not specifically say that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine but it condemns the usage of unilateral sanctions, which is taken as a criticism on Ukraine’s allies in the West. The Chinese authorities have so far not publicly responded to Mr Zelensky’s call for a summit with Mr Xi. Meanwhile, Russia hailed the Chinese peace proposals.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Beijing was considering supplying weapons to Russia, which is denied by Beijing. But, American media again reported that the Chinese government was considering sending drones and artillery shells to Moscow.
It is also said that China appears to be siding with Russia, though it would like to find a way of rescuing President Putin by arranging some kind of face-saving peace deal.
The Chinese proposals were followed by a visit of the foreign Minister Wang Yi to Moscow, where he met President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Mr Wang was seen quoting as Beijing was willing to deepen political trust and strengthen strategic coordination with Moscow.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing doesn’t have much credibility because it had not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
President Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and Russian troops made significant advances during the first few days in Ukraine’s north, east and south.
But the attack on the capital Kyiv was soon repulsed and the Ukrainian military was later able to retake large areas.
The conflict – the biggest in Europe since World War Two – has since become a grinding war of attrition.
