"Don't add fuel to the fire" – China expects US to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

China is advocating a political settlement of the "Ukrainian crisis" and peace negotiations, planning to contribute to the de-escalation of the situation "in its own way".

Source: Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, at a briefing on 27 March as cited by Ukrinform

Quote: "Concerning Ukraine, we are in favour of political regulation of the crisis and peace negotiations.

China keeps in touch with all sides and will continue to play a constructive role in its own way, contributing to the de-escalation of the situation."

Details: This is how Mao Ning responded to a question about how any peace plan can be implemented in Ukraine if major states such as the US and China are not even discussing it.

She says Beijing hopes that "the US will also act responsibly, creating the environment and conditions necessary for peaceful negotiations between the sides involved, instead of adding fuel to the fire."

Background: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on Russia’s statement about deploying its nuclear weapons in Belarus, remarking that strategic risks must be reduced, and there are no winners in a nuclear war.

Earlier, on the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published its "position concerning the political regulation of the Ukrainian crisis", consisting of 12 points. 

On 21 March, Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Moscow where he met with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and signed two treaties about economic cooperation and partnership strengthening plans with him. Jinping did not talk to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, nor did he suggest mediation.

Vladimir Putin at the joint conference with Xi Jingping in Moscow claimed that China’s "peace plan" concerning the war in Ukraine can be taken as a basis once Ukraine and the West are ready for it. 

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