Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused China of aiding Russia in efforts to disrupt an upcoming peace conference aimed at addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine. Zelensky made these allegations during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security conference held in Singapore.
Zelensky claimed that Russia has been leveraging Chinese influence and diplomatic channels to dissuade countries in the wider Asian region from attending the peace summit scheduled to take place on June 15-16 at the Burgenstock Resort in central Switzerland. “Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” Zelensky stated. He further lamented that it was unfortunate for a powerful and independent country like China to be used as an instrument by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky’s accusations mark a significant shift in his approach towards China, which he had previously sought to engage in pressuring Moscow to end the war. Despite attempts to arrange meetings with Chinese officials at various levels since his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping a year ago, these efforts have not materialized, according to Zelensky.
China's Minister of National Defence, Admiral Dong Jun, who was present at the same conference, refuted these claims, insisting that China has not provided weapons to either party involved in the conflict. “We have never provided weapons to either party of the conflict. We have put stricter control on the export of dual-use items and have never done anything to fan the flames. We stand firmly on the side of peace and dialogue,” Dong Jun asserted.
Zelensky outlined that Ukraine intended to present several proposals at the summit, which would serve as a foundation for peace. These include measures addressing nuclear security, food security, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. He emphasized the urgency of these issues, highlighting the plight of children growing up under Russian influence and being taught to despise their homeland.
China had signaled its reluctance to participate in the summit, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning indicating that the current arrangements did not meet China’s expectations. Mao Ning had stated, “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. This makes it difficult for China to participate in the meeting.”
The peace summit faced another setback when reports surfaced that U.S. President Joe Biden would likely skip the event due to a campaign stop in California ahead of the upcoming presidential election in November.
China maintains that it holds a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine. However, trade between China and Russia has increased significantly over the past two and a half years, which has helped mitigate the economic impact of Western sanctions on Russia. Intelligence agencies from the U.S., Ukraine, and other nations have provided evidence suggesting that Chinese components are being used in Russian weaponry, even though China denies directly supplying arms to Russia.
Zelensky’s criticism of China underscores the complex dynamics at play in the international efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. He expressed concern that China’s support for Russia could prolong the war, which he argued would have detrimental effects globally. “[China] cannot say that [they] accept sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and at the same time be on the side of the country that violates the principles of the United Nations charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian President’s remarks highlight the challenges faced in garnering comprehensive international support for the peace process and the difficulties posed by the geopolitical interests of powerful nations like China.
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