A high-ranking Ukrainian official stated on Saturday that "China has a vital part to play in achieving peace", following a meeting with Beijing's top diplomat in Munich.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration, Andriy Yermak, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, amidst widespread speculation about China's role in a conflict that appears to be entering a new phase.
In a highly positive update posted to his X page, Yermak commended Beijing for its "principled stance" on "nuclear threats" by Russia, following Moscow's drone attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Friday.
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We also discussed Ukraine's vision for achieving a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace. As a key international actor, China has a vital role to play in achieving peace," Yermak said. "The Chinese foreign minister stated that Ukraine must be a party to any peace negotiations, just as Europe's involvement in them is also crucial.
To bring an end to the nearly three-year conflict.
On Saturday, Ukraine's special envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that European leaders will not be participating in peace talks, amid concerns from Ukraine and its supporters regarding the possibility of Ukraine being given equal status to Russia in the negotiations.
"I'm being completely genuine when I say this, even if it might be a bit annoying at first, like chalk scratching on a blackboard," Kellogg said to the Munich summit.
And to my European friends, I'd say: 'Join the debate, not by lamenting whether you're at the table or not, but by bringing forward specific plans and ideas to increase defense spending.'
On Friday, Wang mentioned to Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat, that he "supports Europe's significant role in the peace negotiations process", drawing a sharp contrast with Kellogg's statement.
It was reported by the Financial Times on Saturday that US and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia next week in an effort to initiate talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, which began with a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday, as reported by the FT, to prepare for an upcoming meeting. This comes after a previous conversation between Trump and Putin, in which they confirmed that they would begin negotiations "immediately".
China's involvement in the situation is unclear, but Beijing has stated from the beginning of the war that it favors a diplomatic resolution.
While some European nations have expressed skepticism about China's close relationship with Russia, Ukraine's leaders have been cautious and have generally avoided criticizing China. European diplomatic sources suggest that Kyiv has expected China's influence over Russia to eventually play a significant role.
Ukrainian officials view China as the leader of the "global south" and a crucial partner in rallying international support for future UN agreements.
"We reaffirmed our mutual respect for the territorial integrity of both Ukraine and China as the basis of Ukrainian-Chinese bilateral relations," Yermak wrote after the meeting.
"We have observed an increase in political dialogue between Ukraine and China in 2024 and explored the potential for more senior-level meetings. We also touched on the advancement of bilateral relations and trade. China continues to be one of Ukraine's major trading partners," he added.
In a blog post published on Saturday evening, the former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis contributed to speculation about Beijing's role in resolving the war, stating that "China could win the war against Ukraine without firing a shot".
"If the US and Europe fail to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, China may fill the void, using its influence over Russia, and potentially offer a more favorable agreement than the one proposed by Trump," Landsbergis warned, known for his tough stance on Beijing during his tenure.
Ukraine has a great deal to offer China in exchange for security reinforcement, port access, and agricultural supplies. Some Europeans will likely back this strategy. This move could be termed a 'Kissinger', similar to Kissinger's past tactic of dividing the US and Europe, as he once did with the Soviet Union and China.
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This article was originally published in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a leading news source covering China and the Asia region.
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