China's Friends of Peace: Expert evaluates whether there is threat to Ukraine's peace formula
Photo: Xi Jinping, leader of China (Getty Images)
The Chinese Friends of Peace initiative is unlikely to produce a concrete plan for resolving the war between Ukraine and Russia. Currently, there are no alternatives to Ukraine's peace formula, states Alina Hrytsenko, Ph.D. in Political Science and Senior Consultant at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine's YouTube channel.
She noted that China is making significant efforts to create the appearance of broad global support for the China-Brazil peace initiative.
"If such meetings in these formats continue, it is unlikely to result in a concrete plan for resolution. So far, no one is likely to propose an alternative to Zelenskyy's peace formula," Grytsenko clarified.
In her view, the Chinese initiative will likely be reduced to diplomatic statements emphasizing that "this is not an era of wars, and conflicts should end through peace negotiations."
The expert emphasized that for China, this is primarily about reputation and image. Beijing is trying to promote the narrative that the US acts aggressively, and its aid to Ukraine only leads to escalation.
"China is trying to position itself as a peacemaker offering negotiations. It's about image and reputation. They are attempting to work similarly in other areas, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Grytsenko explained.
What preceded this
China recently announced the creation of a Friends of Peace platform regarding the war in Ukraine. This initiative is being organized by China together with countries of the Global South.
Prior to this, China and Brazil agreed on a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, which does not require the withdrawal of Russian occupying forces from Ukrainian territories.
