Beijing Advocates for Equal Participation in Ukraine Peace Talks
In a recent interview with Russia’s RIA state news agency, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui emphasized Beijing’s support for a peace conference on the Ukraine war, advocating for equal participation of all involved parties. The ambassador’s remarks underscore China’s call for a balanced dialogue, stating, “China supports a timely convening of an international peace conference, approved by the Russian and Ukrainian sides, with equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all options for peace.”
Despite the push for inclusivity, the upcoming summit in Switzerland has been met with skepticism. Switzerland will host talks on June 15-16, yet both Moscow and Kyiv have cast doubts about the effectiveness of the summit. Moscow has not been invited to the event, which has led to Russian officials questioning the point of the talks. Similarly, Kyiv has expressed reservations, seeing no role for Russia at the summit planned near Lucerne.
President Xi Jinping of China, during a visit to France, appeared reserved about the Swiss-led initiative. This lukewarm response reflects the challenges in bringing together the conflicting sides. Beijing had previously presented a 12-point paper outlining broad principles for ending the conflict but stopped short of delving into specifics. The proposal received a mixed reaction, with some critics pointing out that it failed to address key issues and condemnations.
Nevertheless, Ambassador Zhang Hanhui reiterated China’s readiness to contribute to resolving the crisis, bringing “China’s wisdom” to the table. He highlighted the urgency of collective efforts to restore peace swiftly to prevent further escalation.
The war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has led to significant loss of life and displacement, with no resolution currently in sight. As Beijing supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war with equal participation of all parties, aiming to achieve peace in Ukraine, the international community watches closely, hoping for progress towards a peaceful resolution.
