China has entered the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, stating that it would like to serve as a mediator for a settlement.
On Thursday, March 16, China’s foreign minister urged Kiev and Moscow to resume peace negotiations “as soon as possible,” expressing Beijing’s concern that the conflict “could escalate and get out of control.”
Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing “hopes that all parties will maintain calm, exercise restraint, resume peace talks as soon as possible, and return to the track of political settlement” and added that “China hopes that Ukraine and Russia retain hope for dialogue and negotiation.”
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that he had discussed the “importance of the principle of territorial integrity” with China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang during their earlier-in-the-day phone call.
As the foreign minister urged Kyiv and Moscow to restart peace talks “as soon as possible,” Beijing once more brought up the notion of the so-called peace plan it floated last month.
China has come under fire from Western nations for failing to denounce Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor in Europe, and last month it vehemently refuted US claims that it was considering sending weapons to support Russia’s war.
Beijing recently stated that it hoped to contribute positively to easing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Beijing also developed a 12-point peace plan for a gradual de-escalation of hostilities between the warring parties.
