Chinese delegation declines meeting with Zelenskyy in Switzerland, Politico repots
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
China refused to agree to a meeting between Prime Minister Li Qiang and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Switzerland, reports Politico.
"China’s delegation in Switzerland had ample opportunity to sit across from their Ukrainian counterparts, whether in Bern or at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Any meeting would have satisfied a long-standing hope in Kyiv to hold frank, in-person discussions with senior officials from Beijing," the article states.
Earlier, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, emphasized the importance of China joining peaceful negotiations, hinting that Zelenskyy would have the opportunity to talk with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang.
However, in the end, Ukraine failed to make progress in involving China in the negotiations, and Zelenskyy and Li did not meet.
China may not want to end the war in Ukraine
The article suggests that this could be the latest sign that China has no intention of seeking an end to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Politico points out that instead of supporting Ukraine, China has sided with Russia and started supplying materials for military purposes, despite pressure from Western countries.
China deliberately avoided meeting with Ukraine
The article says that China's decision not to meet with the Ukrainian delegation looked intentional rather than a result of scheduling issues.
One senior U.S. official stated that Beijing rejected Kyiv's request for a meeting at some point during their mutual visits to Switzerland. Another high-ranking U.S. representative claimed that China refused any meetings after Russia urged it to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine.
A senior EU representative stated that the bloc urged China to resume direct contact with Zelenskyy, noting that a meeting with Li in Switzerland would have been a positive step.
China and Ukraine's Peace Formula
During his speech at the G20 summit in November 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed the Peace Formula to halt Russia's full-scale invasion.
Earlier, a member of the Federal Council of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, stated that China should be involved in efforts to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy also claimed that China plays a significant role in the world, and Ukraine wants this country to be involved in the peace summit.
However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to why the country did not participate in the meeting on the Ukrainian Peace Formula in Davos on January 14. Meanwhile, they stated that Beijing supports "all efforts aimed at achieving peace."
