Putin supports China’s Ukraine peace plan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for China’s plan for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis in an interview published on Wednesday.
His remarks come ahead of his visit to Beijing this week and highlight the diplomatic alignment between Russia and China amid ongoing tensions with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin’s Endorsement of China’s Approach:
Putin, speaking to China’s Xinhua news agency, praised China’s understanding of the root causes and global significance of the Ukraine crisis.
“We are positive in our assessment of China’s approach to solving the Ukrainian crisis,” Vladimir Putin said, according to a Russian-language transcript on the Kremlin website.
“In Beijing, they truly understand its root causes and its global geopolitical meaning.”
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He lauded China’s additional principles, recently articulated by President Xi Jinping in talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as “realistic and constructive steps” toward overcoming Cold War mentalities.
China’s Diplomatic Initiative:
China’s 12-point proposal for ending the Ukraine war, put forward over a year ago, received a tepid response from Russia and Ukraine initially.
However, President Xi’s recent principles emphasize cooling down the situation, restoring peace, and minimizing global economic impacts, indicating China’s continued diplomatic engagement in the crisis.
Russia’s View and Actions:
Russia views the conflict as a struggle against the “collective West” and perceives NATO expansion as a threat to its security.
Describing its actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” to disarm and protect against fascism, Russia’s narrative clashes with Western assertions of unprovoked aggression.
China-Russia Relations and Military Support:
Despite proclaiming a strong partnership with Russia, China has refrained from providing direct military support in Ukraine.
This cautious approach suggests China’s efforts to balance its relationship with Russia while preserving broader diplomatic interests, including relations with Western countries.
Ukraine’s Peace Plan and Diplomatic Efforts:
As Putin supports China’s Ukraine peace plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s peace plan emphasizes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of pre-Soviet borders.
Ukraine has actively pursued diplomatic efforts, including the upcoming “peace summit” scheduled for Switzerland in June.
Despite Russia’s dismissal of the initiative, Ukraine’s efforts to persuade China to attend underscore the importance of broad international involvement in resolving the crisis.
