On a friendly visit to Moscow on Tuesday, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin played the role of peacemakers, presenting a putative plan to halt Russia’s raging war in Ukraine, which the US has dismissed as a one-sided attempt to provide the Kremlin leader cover as he carries on with his invasion.
Putin welcomed China President Xi Jinping’s call for a “peaceful settlement in Ukraine” on Tuesday, in a show of unity at the Kremlin that raised the prospect of a strengthened anti-Western bulwark on the international stage.
But, as a meaningful peace framework, their offers have been mostly ignored. China’s offer, which calls for a truce and discussions but makes no mention of Moscow withdrawing its soldiers from Ukrainian territory, was drafted without the assistance of Kiev.
Nevertheless, the US warned on Monday that Xi’s visit would provide “diplomatic cover” for Russia’s conflict.
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Russia – China relations over the years
Russia and China have had centuries of diplomatic connections. Conflicts emerged in the nineteenth century as a result of unequal treaties negotiated by China with Western nations, including Russia. The Soviet Union supplied support to the Chinese Communist Party during the 1920s and 1940s, resulting in their victory in the Chinese Civil War. The Soviet Union officially recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1950, and the two countries signed a friendship treaty. Relations deteriorated in the 1960s, however, due to ideological divisions and boundary conflicts. Russia and China have built tighter connections in recent years, with both countries attempting to counterbalance the United States’ global dominance.
China’s peace proposal
Putin stated that he is open to negotiations on Ukraine and commended Beijing’s 12-point position document on the issue, which includes a call for dialogue and respect for the territorial sovereignty of all countries.
He accused Kiev of being unwilling to accept China’s ideas, which the US has claimed would simply entrench “Russian control” and allow the Kremlin to launch a new attack.
During talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin stated, “Many of the concepts of China’s peace plan… might be viewed as the framework for a peaceful settlement when Kyiv and the West are ready for it.” “But we have yet to observe such willingness on their behalf,” he added.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country has invited China to discussions and is awaiting a response from Beijing.
“We encouraged China to join us in putting the peace formula into effect,” Zelensky said. He went on to say, “We disseminated our formula through all possible channels. We welcome your participation in the discussion. We are eagerly awaiting your response.” Zelensky conducted a press conference on Tuesday.
China’s role criticized by the west
There has been widespread skepticism of China’s stance on conflict resolution, focusing on fears that nothing supplied by Beijing thus far matches Ukraine’s demand that all Russian forces evacuate from its territory.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Xi’s visit, pointing out that it came just days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
According to Washington’s top diplomat, “China sees no need to hold the Kremlin accountable for the atrocities committed in Ukraine, and rather than simply condemning them, it would rather offer diplomatic cover for Russia to continue committing those identical crimes.”
He went on to say that any calls for a cease-fire “that do not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be ratifying Russian conquest” because it would “allow President Putin to rest and refit his troops, and then restart the war at a time more advantageous to Russia.”
On the same day, Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov tweeted that the “successful implementation” of a Chinese “peace plan” must begin with the “capitulation or withdrawal” of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was willing to “discuss” China’s ideas. Nevertheless, he cautioned that a ceasefire would just allow Russia “to prepare and return with their single objective, their leader’s wish – that is to conquer our nation.”
Xi’s travel to Moscow coincided with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s surprise visit to Ukraine on Tuesday to meet Zelensky.
On the same day, Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov tweeted that the “successful implementation” of a Chinese “peace plan” must begin with the “capitulation or withdrawal” of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
