Ukraine: Beijing calls for talks, rules out use of nuclear weapons

The Chinese government called for the resumption of talks between Russia and Ukraine and rejected any aid for nuclear weapons in a 12-point document released Friday, a year after the conflict began.

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China’s foreign ministry said “all parties, including Russia and Ukraine, should work in the same direction and resume direct talks as soon as possible” to support a “peaceful settlement”.

The document, titled “China’s position on a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis,” was published on the ministry’s website on Friday morning, the first anniversary of the February 24, 2022, outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

China has been trying to mediate the Ukrainian conflict for weeks, and has promised for days to make its position known for a political solution.

In the document released on Friday, Beijing takes a clear stance against the use of nuclear weapons, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has branded the threat.

“Nuclear weapons should not be used, nuclear war should not be waged. “We must resist the threat or use of nuclear weapons,” the document said.

China has called on both countries to refrain from targeting civilians.

“Parties to the conflict must strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and refrain from attacking civilians or civilian buildings,” the ministry said.

The battle is a delicate issue for Beijing because of its strong diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow over the years, united by common interests that oppose Washington.

Western pressure

China said on Tuesday it was “deeply concerned” about the conflict “escalating and spiraling out of control”.

Officially neutral, China has urged the international community to heed Moscow’s security concerns, saying it must respect the sovereignty of countries including Ukraine.

But Western pressure is mounting on Beijing, which has neither publicly supported nor criticized the Russian offensive, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.

In recent days, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has expressed concern that China is considering supplying Russia with weapons – allegations Beijing has vehemently denied.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Moscow on Wednesday, where he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Putin.

At the end of the visit, Moscow said Mr. Wang presented to him China’s approach to a “political solution” to the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he would like to discuss the document with Beijing on China’s position, viewing the involvement of this close partner of Moscow as “positive”.

“We want to have a meeting with China. It is in Ukraine’s interest today,” said Mr. Zelensky said.

“China has started talking about Ukraine and sending some signals is a very positive thing,” he added, although he stressed that he had not been able to read the document “yet”. to evaluate”.