China yesterday called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in a 12-point proposal for ending the war that appeared to offer some reprieve to Moscow and little chance of winning broad support as the conflict enters its second year.
Several of the measures outlined by China in a position paper would, if carried out, offer clear benefits to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That includes a ceasefire that would freeze Russian troops in place on Ukrainian territory, as well as a call to immediately end all sanctions not endorsed by the UN Security Council, where Russia holds veto power.
Photo: EPA-EFE / ALEXEI DRUZHININ / KREMLIN / SPUTNIK
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier questioned the Chinese government’s willingness to mediate in the conflict.
“Every constructive suggestion that brings us closer on the path to a just peace is highly welcome,” Steinmeier said on the anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “Whether global power China wants to play such a constructive role is still doubtful.”
The proposal “will be a nonstarter with the US and most European countries,” said Neil Thomas, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, a political risk advisory and consulting firm.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said China’s proposal should have ended after the first bullet point, which calls for “respecting the sovereignty of all countries.”
“This war could end tomorrow, if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine and withdrew its forces,” Sullivan said. “Ukraine wasn’t attacking Russia. NATO wasn’t attacking Russia. The United States wasn’t attacking Russia. This was a war of choice by Putin, waged upon Ukraine.”
China’s recommendations came a day after the country abstained from a UN resolution calling for an end to the war.
The measure passed 141-7, with 32 abstentions.
The resolution included a demand for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine’s territory.
“We do have a peace plan right here in front of us. It’s called the Charter of the United Nations,” German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said at the UN General Assembly on Thursday. “That’s why the road to peace is also very clear. Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Russia must stop the bombing. Russia must return to the UN Charter.”
That echoes demands from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government, which says it will continue fighting until Russian troops depart.
Moscow has shown no sign of stopping its attacks and continues to claim portions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea as its territory after holding faux referendums on annexation.
BEIJING BACKS MOSCOW
The Chinese government has repeatedly defended some of Russia’s justifications for going to war — most prominently to resist NATO’s eastward expansion — while has said it does not support the invasion itself.
Days before releasing the proposal, Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Wang Yi (王毅) met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and called ties between the nations “solid as a mountain” and able to “stand the test of international risks.”
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has not spoken with Zelenskiy since the war started, despite speaking with Putin at least four times.
As the war drags on, there is rising concern that China might be playing a more active role to help Moscow.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said that Beijing probably approved of Chinese firms providing Russia nonlethal, “dual-use” support for its war in Ukraine, remarks that underscore growing US concern that Beijing might help arm Putin’s forces.
China has rejected the allegations and accused the US of fanning the conflict by providing weapons to Ukraine.
Additional reporting by AFP
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