What the peace plan presented overnight by China contains
In a 12-point document released a year after the conflict began, the Chinese government called on Russia and Ukraine to resume dialogue. “All parties must support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and resume direct dialogue as soon as possible” in view of a “peaceful solution”, writes the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Entitled “China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis”the document was published Friday morning on the ministry’s website.
China has been seeking for a few weeks to play a mediating role in the Ukrainian conflict, and has been promising for several days to publish its position with a view to finding a political solution. In the document unveiled on Friday, Beijing takes a clear position against any recourse to nuclear weapons, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has brandished this threat.
“Nuclear weapons should not be used and nuclear war should not be waged. We must oppose the threat or the use of nuclear weapons.states the document.
China also calls on both countries to avoid any attacks on civilians. “The parties (involved) in the conflict must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian buildings”underlines the ministry.
Officially neutral, China calls for respecting the sovereignty of states, including Ukraine, while urging the international community to take into account Moscow’s security concerns. But Western pressure is growing on Beijing, which has never publicly supported or criticized the Russian offensive, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
On Wednesday, the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, traveled to Moscow, where he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Putin. At the end of this visit, Moscow reported that Mr. Wang had presented to him China’s approach to a “political solution” to the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he wanted to discuss this document on China’s position with Beijing, judging « positive » the involvement of this close partner of Moscow.