Her special envoy China in Ukraine, Li Hui believes that “there is no panacea to resolve the crisis” as he has repeatedly called on Kyiv and Moscow to negotiate an end to the war.

China, a strategic ally of Russia, refrained from condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and tried to position itself as a neutral mediator who could help end the conflict.

Li Hui, the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and other officials.

“There is no panacea to resolve the crisis, and all parties must start with themselves, build mutual trust and create conditions for ending the war and negotiations,” said Li, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs. Foreign affairs.

Li added during talks with Ukrainian officials that China “will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine within its capabilities.”

Beijing avoids condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, or even talking about an “invasion.” With this position, Beijing has become the target of criticism from European countries and the United States, which question the credibility of China in its role as a potential mediator.

Chinese proposals

China’s proposal includes a ceasefire and peace talks, as well as an end to Western sanctions against Russia. He says that “the countries involved should stop abusing unilateral sanctions” and “help de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.”

It says that the sovereignty of all countries must be respected, although it does not specify how it will be in the case of Ukraine in relation to the territories wrested from it after Russia seized Crimea in 2014.

The movement denounces the “Cold War mentality,” a rebuke to the United States and NATO and the US-European Union military alliance. “The security of the region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” the proposal says. Russian President Vladimir Putin asked for guarantees before the invasion that Ukraine would not join NATO.

Other parts of the proposal call for a ceasefire, peace talks, protection of prisoners of war and an end to attacks on civilians, maintaining the safety of nuclear power plants and facilitating grain exports.

Source: AFP, Le Monde.