Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy yesterday said that China was helping Russia to disrupt an upcoming Swiss-organized peace conference on the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at Asia’s premier security and defense conference, Zelenskiy said that China is pressuring other countries and their leaders not to attend the upcoming talks.
He did not say which ones.
Photo: AFP
“Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he told a news conference at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum. “Regrettably this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”
China has staked out what it says is a neutral position on the war, putting it at odds with Ukraine, the US and most of Europe. Its trade with Russia has grown, easing the economic impact of Western sanctions.
US, Ukrainian and other intelligence agencies say there is evidence that Chinese parts are winding up in Russian weaponry, even if China is not directly arming its neighbor.
The Swiss had been hoping China would attend the peace conference later this month, but Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) on Friday signaled that was unlikely. China has been calling for a peace conference with equal participation of all sides, including Russia, which has not been invited.
“There is still a clear gap between the arrangements for the meeting and the demands of the Chinese side, as well as the general expectations of the international community,” Mao said. “This makes it difficult for China to participate in the meeting.”
The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zelenskiy’s accusation.
“That is not only support to Russia, that is basically support of war,” Zelenskiy said of China’s pressure on others.
In a speech to the security conference earlier in the day, he urged top defense officials to attend the upcoming talks in Switzerland, saying he was disappointed at the failure of some countries to commit to joining.
Chinese Minister of Defense Dong Jun (董軍) spoke before Zelenskiy at the conference, but he did not appear to be in the room when Zelenskiy made his appeal.
Ukraine had proposals to make at the summit as a basis for peace, addressing nuclear security, food security, the release of prisoners of war and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, Zelenskiy said.
“Time is running out, and the children are growing up in the Putin-land where they are taught to hate their homeland,” he said.
At the same time, he said that Ukraine is “ready to hear various proposals and thoughts that lead us ... to an end of the war and a sustainable and just peace.”
The greater the participation, the more likely it will be that Russia would have to listen, he said.
“The global majority can ensure with their involvement that what is agreed upon is truly implemented,” he said.
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