The publication “The Wall Street Journal” publishes the proposal with which Chinese special envoy Li Hui, responsible for implementing Xi Jinping’s peace plan in Ukraine, traveled through European capitals.
China has reportedly tried to convince Western diplomats that Russia should be allowed to keep Ukraine’s occupied territories, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing officials familiar with the results of Li Hui’s visits to Europe.
After visiting Warsaw, Berlin, Paris and Brussels, the diplomat, who previously served as China’s ambassador to Russia in Moscow, called for an end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible and to prevent its escalation, revealed everyday sources.
China’s ideas were met with little enthusiasm, they said. “We have made it clear that the international community is not interested in freezing the conflict if Russia does not withdraw its forces (from Ukraine),” a diplomat who spoke with Li Hui told The Wall Street Journal.
The source added that the Chinese envoy was made to understand that “Europe and America cannot be divided” and that European support for Ukraine continues.
According to Wall Street Journal sources, China appears to want to prevent Russia from losing the war and going nuclear. And while it’s too early to rule out Beijing’s efforts to settle the dispute, the European Union (EU) doubts China is ready to act as an impartial mediator in the talks, given its close ties to Moscow. .
After touring Europe, Li Hui traveled to Russia on Friday.
Last week he traveled to Ukraine, where he met with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and other officials. Li is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine after the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.
“There is no panacea to resolve the crisis, so all countries must start on their own, establish mutual trust, create conditions to end the war and talk,” said the special envoy of China for Eurasian Affairs, Li, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
In talks with Ukrainian officials, including Kuleb, Li added that China “will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine within its capabilities.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March. In April, he spoke for an hour on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine’s Western allies have criticized Xi for refusing to condemn the invasion and for maintaining China’s strategic alliance with Russia, even as Moscow faces growing international isolation.
Source: The Delfi
