China’s foreign ministry has called for a ceasefire and peace talks on Thursday – as the country pushed for the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The communist state said it wants to prevent the crisis from getting out of control, noting that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable ways to resolve the conflict, according to a position paper released on Friday said.
On the one-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, China called for a comprehensive ceasefire and gradually promoted the de-escalation and easing of the war.
‘Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control,’ the statement said.
The plan, issued by the Chinese ministry, also urged the end of Western sanctions imposed on Russia, measures to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities, the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and steps to ensure the export of grain after disruptions caused global food prices to spike.
The Russian despot smiled as he shook hands with Wang Yi inside the Kremlin yesterday during their impromptu meeting – proudly showcasing his deepening ties with China amid his barbaric invasion of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set out aims for the second year of the invasion and after a series of speeches in the run up to the anniversary, he announced plans to deploy the new Sarmat multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles.
‘Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear war cannot be fought,’ the statement said. ‘We oppose development, use of biological and chemical weapons by any country under any circumstances.’
China has claimed to be neutral in the conflict, but it has a ‘no limits’ relationship with Russia and has refused to criticize its invasion of Ukraine, while accusing the West of provoking the conflict and ‘fanning the flames’ by providing Putin with defensive arms.
Russia and China have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose the U.S.-led liberal international order.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the strength of those ties when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow this week.
China has also been accused by the U.S. of possibly preparing to provide Russia with military aid, something Beijing says lacks evidence.
Before China’s 12-point proposal was released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it an important first step.
‘I think that, in general, the fact that China started talking about peace in Ukraine, I think that it is not bad. It is important for us that all states are on our side, on the side of justice,’ he said at a news conference Friday with Spain’s prime minister.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier Thursday that the U.S. would reserve judgment but that China´s allegiance with Russia meant it was not a neutral mediator.
‘We would like to see nothing more than a just and durable peace … but we are skeptical that reports of a proposal like this will be a constructive path forward,’ he said.
Price added that the U.S. hopes ‘all countries that have a relationship with Russia unlike the one that we have will use that leverage, will use that influence to push Russia meaningfully and usefully to end this brutal war of aggression. (China) is in a position to do that in ways that we just aren´t.’
The peace proposal mainly elaborated on long-held Chinese positions, including referring to the need that all countries’ ‘sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity be effectively guaranteed.’
It also called an end to the ‘Cold War mentality’ – it’s standard term for what it regards as U.S. hegemony and interference in other countries.
‘A country´s security cannot be at the expense of other countries´ security, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs,’ the proposal said. ‘
The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries should be taken seriously and properly addressed.’
China abstained Thursday when the U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. It is one of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous resolutions on Ukraine.
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing
China’s deputy United Nations Ambassador Dai Bing address the U.N. General Assembly before a vote for a U.N. resolution upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and calling for a cessation of hostilities after Russia’s invasion
A teenager takes a photo on top of the remains of a Russian tank destroyed at the beginning of the war as the first anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine nears in Bucha
People hold a candlelight vigil outside of the Russian Consulate to show support for Ukraine on the eve of the one year anniversary
Several people held vigil outside the Manhattan consulate on the eve of the anniversary of the war’s outbreak
Signs in English, Russian and Ukrainian all were adorned with signs begging to stop Putin
Protesters against the war in Ukraine stand shoulder to shoulder
One protester with a sign saying: ‘I’m Russian. I stand with Ukraine. Putin is a killer’
A woman looks on as the vigil in Manhattan continues
The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7 with 32 abstentions, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that appears to leave Russia more isolated than ever.
While China has not been openly critical of Moscow, it has said that the present conflict is ‘not something it wishes to see,’ and has repeatedly said any use of nuclear weapons would be completely unacceptable, in an implied repudiation of Putin´s statement that Russia would use ‘all available means’ to protect its territory.
‘There are no winners in conflict wars,’ the proposal said.
‘All parties should maintain rationality and restraint … support Russia and Ukraine to meet each other, resume direct dialogue as soon as possible, gradually promote the de-escalation and relaxation of the situation, and finally reach a comprehensive ceasefire,’ it said.
Putin met with China’s top diplomat in Moscow yesterday and declared ‘other countries will not influence our relations’ as he doubles down on forging ties with Beijing amid the West’s condemnation of his war in Ukraine.
In a clear sign of his desire to cozy up to the eastern superpower, Putin warmly greeted Wang Yi at the Kremlin today before the pair sat down to talk business face-to-face, mere feet from one another.
It was a stark contrast to Putin’s treatment of other world leaders which has seen the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban forced to sit at the opposite end of the room, separated by a large table.
Even some of the Kremlin’s top insiders, including loyal foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, hapless defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukraine war architect Valery Gerasimov are subjected to extreme social distancing – yet Wang was allowed direct contact with the Russian despot.
Putin told Wang, the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, that he looked forward to President Xi Jinping visiting him in Moscow.
The Russian President said ties between Russia and Beijing are important to ‘stabilize the international situation’ amid crippling Western sanctions against Moscow in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago.
The pair insisted that relations between Russia and China could not be influenced by other countries in a two-fingered salute to the West and Ukrainians.
Wang meanwhile told Putin told that Beijing will play a constructive role in reaching a political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, the TASS news agency reported.