China’s foreign ministry on Thursday called for a ceasefire and peace talks – as the country pushed for the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On the one-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, China called for a comprehensive ceasefire and gradually promoted the de-escalation and easing of what Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called ‘a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity’ as he marked the grim milestone for his country yesterday morning.
However, the proposal has been met with scepticism in Ukraine and the West.
In its 12-point plan, Beijing called for an end to Western sanctions, negotiations which would likely see Ukraine ceding territory, a NATO pull-back from its eastern borders and reconstruction efforts that would probably benefit Chinese contractors.
Meanwhile, US intelligence has warned that China is planning to supply Moscow with weapons and ammunition – something that Beijing denies.
Jorge Toledo, the European Union’s ambassador to China, said Beijing had ‘a special responsibility’ to uphold the goals and values of the United Nations, especially when it came to war and peace.
‘Whether this is compatible with neutrality, I’m not sure – it depends on what neutrality means,’ he added.
The plan also urged for measures to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities, the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and steps to ensure the export of grain after disruptions caused global food prices to spike.
‘Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiralling out of control,’ China’s statement said.
