Putin: China peace plan could be basis to end war
Vladimir Putin has suggested that the basis for ending the war may be China’s peace proposal for Ukraine.
On Tuesday in Moscow, the Russian president met with Xi Jinping, the president of China, to talk about the dispute and their bilateral relations.
When both the West and Kyiv are ready for it, Mr. Putin added, the peace plan may be presented.
China’s plan, however, which was unveiled last month, does not demand that Russia quit Ukraine.
The 12-point proposal, which was released last month, called for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty.
Also, it denounces “unilateral sanctions,” which is interpreted as a subliminal jab at Ukraine’s Western partners.
As a prerequisite for any negotiations, Ukraine has insisted that Russia withdraw from its territory.
And the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said asking for a ceasefire before Russia withdrew “would effectively be endorsing the confirmation of Russian dominance”.
“Several parts of the Chinese peace plan might be accepted as the basis for settling the situation in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it,” Mr. Putin said during a joint news conference following the conclusion of his discussions with Mr. Xi in Moscow.
Yet, he continued, Russia had not yet witnessed similar “readiness” on the opposing side.
Standing alongside the Russian leader, Mr Xi said his government was in favour of peace and dialogue and that China was on the “right side of history”.
The pair also discussed growing trade, energy and political ties between the two nations.
There are growing concerns in the West that China might provide military support for Russia.
“We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities,” Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Xi was given a fanfare welcome when he arrived at the Kremlin for a second day of talk.
His visit to Russia came days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin on war crimes allegations.