US hopes that China can play productive role in ending Russia's war with Ukraine
Matthew Miller, US State Department spokesperson (photo: Getty Images)
The US government is urging China, in the context of its strategic partnership with Russia, to influence Moscow to end its military aggression against Ukraine and achieve a just peace, according to a statement by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Responding to journalists' questions about Chinese assistance to Russia, the US official commented on Beijing's role in strengthening the Kremlin's military machine and providing diplomatic support.
"With respect to China, so look, we have seen, as you said, further relationship between China and Russia, and it’s not just with respect to revitalizing the defense industrial base," he said.
Miller added that Russia is a major strategic partner for China and spoke about the ties between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, including their visits.
"Andd so I don’t – I can’t ultimately predict where it will go. What I can tell you is that when we have talked directly to the Chinese Government, we have said that ultimately we would hope that they could play a productive role in ending the conflict, but it needed to be a role that recognized who was the aggressor and who was the victim," the State Department spokesperson said.
However, he clarified that this must be a role that recognizes who was the aggressor and who was the victim.
"And it was not just getting peace for peace sake, but also getting peace that was a just peace and a lasting peace for that state of Ukraine," Miller stated.
The State Department spokesperson also noted, "But ultimately, I can’t tell you what they’re going to do."
China's cooperation with Russia and the issue of mediation to end the war in Ukraine
It should be noted that the Chinese government officially maintains a neutral position regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine. However, Beijing assists the Kremlin regime with supplies of components for weapon production and purchases oil and gas from Russia, despite the aggressor country being under Western sanctions.
Recently, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that Beijing would seek ways to resolve the crisis in Ukraine in its own manner.
It has also been reported that the NATO summit declaration highlighted China as a decisive factor contributing to Russia's war against Ukraine. In light of this, the Alliance called on China to cease all material and political support for Russia's military efforts.
Additionally, in early July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the US and China could serve as mediators in negotiations with Russia. This could facilitate a just conclusion to the war for Ukraine.
