China hopes for participation of all 'interested parties' in negotiations on Ukraine
Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun (Getty Images)
China gives a positive assessment of US-Russia talks on the war in Ukraine held in Riyadh but emphasizes the need to involve other parties, states Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, according to Tagesschau.
"The People's Republic of China welcomes all efforts aimed at achieving peace, including the consensus reached by the US and Russia regarding peace negotiations," Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry representative stated that China expects the timely involvement of all interested parties in the peace talks. However, Jiakun did not mention Ukraine or specify which "interested parties" Beijing wants to see at the negotiations.
Guo Jiakun emphasized that China has always considered negotiations the only way to resolve the "crisis." Notably, Beijing has yet to condemn Russia's war against Ukraine, effectively supporting the Kremlin.
Talks in Saudi Arabia
Today, February 18, a meeting between representatives of the US and Russia regarding the war in Ukraine took place in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia was chosen as the venue for the negotiations by US President Donald Trump, who sent a delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Representing Russia in the peace talks in Saudi Arabia were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin’s aide Yuriy Ushakov, and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev.
The Ukrainian side was not present at the peace negotiations in Riyadh. The Office of the President confirmed that Ukraine does not plan to hold talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia, despite Trump previously mentioning such a possibility.
European country representatives were also not invited to Saudi Arabia, even though EU leaders have repeatedly stated their desire to participate in the peace talks.
Additionally, the Ukrainian authorities are urging Europe to quickly decide on its representative for the negotiations to end the war. This representative should be at the level of a leader to have the same status as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
