German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday, DPA and Agerpres reported, that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a highly publicized visit to Moscow this week, should also speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

German Chancellor Olaf ScholzPhoto: Michael Kappeler / AFP / Profimedia

Beijing is trying to play the role of peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine, even developing a 12-point plan for a “political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.”

This plan was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s Western allies reacted with deep skepticism to China’s proposal, stressing that it does not call on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

“We consider it natural to talk not only with the Russian president, but also with the Ukrainian president,” Scholz said at the EU summit in Brussels.

The Chancellor of Germany also repeated that, in his opinion, it is “obvious” that the basis for a just peace in Ukraine should be the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Scholz again warned China against sending arms to Russia. According to him, this would be a “big mistake”.

Senior European and American officials have said there is no evidence so far that such shipments are taking place.

Xi Jinping left Moscow on Wednesday after a three-day visit. In the Kremlin, he discussed the war in Ukraine and the expansion of bilateral trade relations with Vladimir Putin.

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