Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to visit China for a three-day trip, marking his first visit to the country since the start of the full-scale war. The visit will focus on discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi regarding Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, China’s role in achieving peace, and Ukrainian-Chinese relations. While China has positioned itself as neutral in the conflict, it has deepened economic ties with Moscow and supplied dual-use goods to the Russian defense industry. Ukraine has appealed to China to use its influence over Russia to help end the war, but these efforts have been largely unsuccessful, with China snubbing a global peace summit in Switzerland in June.
President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized China for supposedly trying to sabotage the summit efforts, leading to backlash from Beijing. China proposed its own alternative peace plan, which would involve a conference recognized by both Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Singapore mentioned that Ukraine would consider attending such talks if they were based on the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law. The disparity in signatories to Ukraine’s peace summit, with a majority coming from Europe, raises questions about Ukraine’s ability to expand its coalition beyond Western allies in Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
China’s involvement and stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have been complex, as it maintains economic ties with Moscow while also attempting to position itself as a neutral party. Ukraine’s efforts to engage China in peace talks and seek its assistance in ending the war have faced challenges, with China proposing its own alternative peace plan and snubbing international summits. The criticisms from President Zelensky towards China reflect the frustration over the lack of progress in securing Chinese support. The focus of the upcoming visit by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister to China highlights the importance of Chinese involvement in resolving the conflict.
The role of China in global peace efforts and its relationship with both Ukraine and Russia will be key topics of discussion during the visit. Ukraine’s aim to broaden its coalition of supporters beyond Western nations raises questions about the potential for greater engagement with countries in the Global South. The disparities in signatories to Ukraine’s peace summit highlight the challenges in expanding support for Ukraine’s efforts to end the conflict. It remains to be seen how China’s stance and actions will impact the ongoing war in Ukraine and whether there will be further opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between Ukraine and China.
Overall, Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to engage China in peace talks and seek its assistance in ending the war with Russia underscore the complexities of international relations in the context of the ongoing conflict. The visit by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister to China represents a crucial opportunity to address key issues related to the conflict and work towards a resolution. As Ukraine navigates the challenges of building a more diverse coalition of supporters, including countries outside of Western allies, the role of China and its potential impact on the conflict will be closely monitored. The outcome of the discussions between Ukrainian and Chinese officials will provide crucial insights into the path forward in addressing the conflict in Ukraine.
