China proposes ceasefire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Getty Images)
China's position on the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine is to immediately cease fire and sit down at the negotiating table, refraining from sanctions, according to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's speech at a UN Security Council meeting.
Wang Yi presented three proposals from China.
First, he emphasized the need to cease hostilities to prevent the conflict from expanding. He also highlighted the importance of avoiding the use of nuclear weapons and the targeting of nuclear facilities, such as power plants. The more weapons are sent into the conflict zone, the harder it will be to achieve a ceasefire, he said.
The Chinese representative stressed the urgent need for dialogue and negotiations, calling them the only viable way to resolve what he referred to as the "Ukrainian crisis" – Beijing’s term for Russia’s war against Ukraine. Without this, he warned, the crisis would only escalate.
Thirdly, Wang Yi urged the international community to prevent the crisis from affecting the global economy. He pointed out the need to avoid sanctions and the disruption of global trade. While he did not specify any country, his remarks were likely aimed at sanctions imposed on Russia and its supporters.
All parties need to prioritize peace and people, and must genuinely commit to promoting peace talks, according to the Chinese foreign minister.
Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, China has supported Moscow diplomatically and economically. While Beijing claims to have peaceful intentions, it remains a major supplier of weapons to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized China and Brazil’s peace plan for ending the war, calling them destructive and pre-coordinated with the Kremlin.
