Zelenskyy criticizes China for backing Russia financially while staying out of peace efforts
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists that China is not showing readiness to engage in efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the war and that Beijing's actions are instead bolstering Russia's financial capacity to continue its aggression against Ukraine.
Commenting on China's position, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had expected Beijing to play a more active role in the diplomatic process, noting that China has real leverage over Moscow. At the same time, the president stressed that China has taken no steps to stop the war.
"I do not yet see China's readiness to join the peace process," Zelenskyy said.
He also pointed to the economic factor that directly affects the course of the war. According to the Ukrainian president, China has significantly increased its purchases of Russian energy resources and has become its largest importer.
"Russia spends the money it earns from exporting energy on the war," the president said.
As a result, Zelenskyy said, China's current role does not contribute to a peaceful settlement and instead effectively allows the Kremlin to continue its military aggression.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has repeatedly called on China to use its political and economic influence over Moscow to halt the fighting. Beijing officially declares neutrality and support for diplomacy but avoids applying direct pressure on Russia.
Against the backdrop of Western sanctions, China has become a key buyer of Russian energy, allowing the Kremlin to offset losses from restrictions and maintain the financial capacity to wage war.
Russia's position on negotiations
On December 25, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed there was "slow but steady progress" in talks with the United States.
A day later, on December 26, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the US and Russia had, in his words, "truly come closer" to a solution to end the war in Ukraine. He made an unsubstantiated claim that Ukraine's peace plan differs from the approach proposed by Washington.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the US could make progress in peace talks in the near future, adding that Russia is deliberately stalling the diplomatic process.
