During a recent meeting in Moscow, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue a “fair, lasting, and binding” peace agreement on Ukraine that would be acceptable to all parties involved in the conflict. This was reported by China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.
The statement came during an informal tea chat between the two leaders and, according to Bloomberg, marks the first time Xi personally outlined principles for ending the war. Although he did not detail the terms of a potential deal, his remarks echoed those made earlier by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who in March stated that all parties in the conflict desired a “fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all.”
Beijing Strengthens Diplomatic Initiative Amid U.S. Confrontation
China first proposed a peace framework in February 2023, unveiling a 12-point plan to end the war. However, Ukraine’s Western allies swiftly dismissed the proposal, noting that it called for the lifting of sanctions on Moscow without demanding a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Still, as Bloomberg points out, recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump suggest that Washington may now be more open to similar concessions to Moscow.
Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia coincided with the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. He was among over 20 foreign leaders who took part in the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square. Other attendees included Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Xi’s comments also came shortly after Trump stated on social media that it would be “natural” for him to ask China to help broker a deal between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire as a pathway to talks and threatened additional sanctions if the truce were violated.
China Seeks New Balance in Relations with Europe and the U.S.
Against the backdrop of escalating U.S.-China economic tensions and a de facto trade embargo from Washington, Beijing is trying to craft a more balanced foreign policy and improve its relations with the European Union. Chinese officials present China as a reliable and predictable partner in contrast to what they call “unilateral pressure” from the United States.
According to Bloomberg, the Chinese government is urging Washington to lift unilateral tariffs on Chinese goods, while the Trump administration is reportedly considering partial tariff reductions. U.S.-China negotiations are set to take place this weekend in Geneva, where trade and geopolitical issues — including the war in Ukraine — are expected to be on the agenda.
Earlier this week, Xi also proposed deepening cooperation with the EU, calling on Beijing and Brussels to “properly manage” their differences and jointly resist “power politics and economic blackmail.” This message reflects China’s broader strategic ambition to maintain its position as a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict while strengthening its global standing amid growing Western pressure.
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