China: China has called for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia and a gradual de-escalation of the situation, which may lead to peace talks as part of a 12-point proposal to end the conflict.
The plan by China, which was released by the foreign ministry and coincides with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demands an end to Western sanctions against Russia, the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and steps to ensure the export of grains.
“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,” the ministry shared in a statement.
“All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually deescalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire,” the statement added.
The proposal focuses on long-held Chinese positions, including that all countries’ “sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity be effectively guaranteed.” The plan further called for an end to the “Cold War mentality,” by which Beijing refers to global dominance by the United States and its interference in other countries’ affairs.
Recently, Beijing’s top diplomat Mr. Wang Yi visited Moscow and pledged a deeper relationship between the countries, while Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed “new frontiers” in ties with Beijing and signalled that China’s leader Mr. Xi Jinping would visit Russia.
The ambassador of the European Union to China, Mr. Jorge Toledo, told reporters at a briefing in Beijing that China had released a position paper, not a peace proposal, and the EU would study it.
“If the position paper is a positive sign for Ukraine, then it’s a positive sign for the EU, although we are studying the paper closely,” Mr. Toledo remarked.
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