China’s peace proposal was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who described it as a “genuine desire” to halt hostilities during the country’s ongoing armed war with Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.
During an interview with China’s Xinhua state news agency amid his two-day visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping, Putin praised Beijing’s approach, stating that it grasped the conflict’s ‘root causes’ and its ‘global geopolitical significance’.
When China first unveiled its 12-point plan to resolve the crisis last year, it was met with a lacklustre reception. Still, Putin praised the new actions revealed last month, citing them as “pragmatic and constructive steps” that “expand on the necessity to move beyond the Cold War mentality,” as Xinhua reported.
Xi Jinping’s supplementary principles, articulated during discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, advocate for de-escalation, creating conditions conducive to peace and stability, and mitigating the impact on the global economy.
In response to Putin’s remarks regarding potential negotiations over the war, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed them as ‘hypocritical’, according to Al Jazeera.
Putin’s visit to Beijing on Thursday marks his first overseas trip since his re-election in March and his second visit to China in just over six months. Additionally, he intends to visit the northeastern city of Harbin for a trade and investment exposition.
The relationship between Russia and China was characterized as one of ‘no limits’ shortly before Moscow’s alleged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Beijing has refrained from offering direct military support to Russia, it has become a crucial economic partner amidst the extensive sanctions imposed by the West in response to Russia’s military actions.
Both countries have experienced a surge in trade, with China benefiting from affordable Russian energy imports and access to abundant natural resources, including consistent gas shipments via the Power of Siberia pipeline.
Despite the economic advantages, China remains cautious due to its ongoing trade dispute with the United States. The recent imposition of significant tariffs by the US on various Chinese exports has further strained relations between the two economic powerhouses.
Furthermore, China has faced punitive measures over its perceived backing of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with the US imposing sanctions on numerous entities, including Chinese firms, to impede Russia’s military capabilities, as reported by Al Jazeera.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Washington’s commitment to imposing sanctions on enterprises involved in China’s alleged support for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, expressing deep concern over the matter.
Russia perceives the conflict in Ukraine as a battle against a ‘collective West’ that disregarded its security concerns by advocating for NATO expansion and conducting military activities near its borders.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been advocating for peace, urging China’s participation in a peace summit scheduled for June in Switzerland. However, Russia, excluded from the summit, dismisses the initiative as inconsequential, insisting that negotiations must reflect ‘new realities’.
Zelenskyy’s efforts to secure support for Ukraine have included a request for Patriot missile defense systems from the US to protect the city of Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, amidst ongoing advances by Russian forces in the region, as reported by Al Jazeera.