China presents a peace plan that calls for a ceasefire, an end to sanctions and respect for territorial integrity

China has called for a ceasefire and urged the start of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this Friday, coinciding with the anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a document in which it expresses Beijing's position on the political solution of the Ukrainian crisis and in which it recalls that "there are no winners in a war" and that the only way out is through the dialogue.

The text, which consists of 12 points, reiterates some of the proposals that President Xi Jinping has been communicating throughout this year, such as that "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected" and that "a war Nuclear power must not be fought and can never be won."

The European response has been rather tepid.

European diplomatic sources emphasize that the ideas launched by Beijing are in accordance with international law, but warn that the Chinese proposal "does not identify or distinguish between the aggressor (Russia) and the victim (Ukraine) and, therefore, lacks objective legitimacy".

It also points out that it represents an attempt by the Xi government to respond to growing international pressure to demonstrate its status as a great power and a responsible international actor.

"His credibility is further compromised by coinciding his publication with the alleged Chinese intentions to supply Russia with weapons (drones)," these sources conclude.

Since the start of the war on February 24, 2022, the Asian giant has maintained a calculated equidistance in favor of Russia, its strategic partner and with which it certified "unlimited friendship" a couple of weeks before the start of the offensive. .

In these 365 days, China has avoided describing the Russian invasion as such and has blamed NATO and especially the United States for being truly responsible for the outbreak of the crisis for not having taken Moscow's "legitimate security concerns" into account. .

Amid growing pressure from Washington and Brussels, Beijing has tried to present itself this Friday as a neutral mediator for peace, although it continues to balance.

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It's not a peace plan

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Although the foreign ministry text states that "the security of one country cannot be compromised at the expense of that of another nation," it notes that "the legitimate interests and security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and adequately addressed." ”.

The document emphasizes "abandoning the Cold War mentality" and, in a clear message to the Atlantic Alliance, recalls that "regional security cannot be guaranteed by reinforcing or even expanding military blocs."

He has also called for stopping "unilateral sanctions" as they "will not solve problems, but will create new ones."

China's position paper comes after the White House this week said it had detected "indications" that Beijing may be considering providing "lethal" military aid to Moscow, something it has not done in the 12 months since conflict.

German weekly

has gone a step further, stating that the Russian military is in negotiations with Chinese drone manufacturer Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology for the mass production of kamikaze drones for Russia.

These accusations have been emphatically rejected by the Asian giant.

On Thursday, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, reiterated that "the United States is the main supplier of weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine and, despite this, it insists on discrediting China by launching false accusations." while China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dai Bing, told the General Assembly that "the brutal facts offer conclusive proof that sending arms will not bring peace."

Nuclear weapons

In the plan released this morning, China has repeated its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons, attacks on nuclear power plants and the use of biochemical weapons, and has called for ensuring the safety of civilian nuclear facilities.

Citing analysts from the country, the

, a markedly nationalist newspaper, anticipated on Wednesday that China will do everything possible to mediate in the conflict, but added that “an effective peace plan will depend on both parties.

Given that Kiev is extremely influenced by Washington [which has no interest in an immediate ceasefire and prefers to prolong the conflict in order to undermine Moscow and change the

by force], it is really difficult to visualize a formula that both parties can accept.

At an event held this Friday in Beijing on the occasion of the anniversary of the start of the war, the European Union ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, asserted that the Asian giant "must fulfill its responsibility to defend the Charter of the United Nations before Russian aggression.

Toledo made these comments in his speech before dozens of diplomats and journalists, and declared that the position document is not a peace proposal in itself, but that the Twenty-seven will study it closely.

Ukraine, for its part, has expressed that it is a "good sign", but has indicated that more steps must be taken.

"China should do everything in its power to stop the war and restore peace in Ukraine and urge Russia to withdraw its troops," Ukraine's charge d'affaires in China, Zhanna Leshchynska, urged at the same briefing.

“To maintain neutrality, China should talk to both sides: Russia and Ukraine;

Right now, China is not talking to Ukraine," the Ukrainian diplomat said, adding that kyiv was not consulted before the publication of the document.

The highest representative of Chinese foreign policy, Wang Yi, advanced the publication of the document at the security conference held last weekend in Munich, in an attempt to present Beijing as a responsible negotiator during a trip to Europe that would end taking to Moscow on Wednesday, where he met with Vladimir Putin.

The head of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (Security Adviser) called the current international situation "complicated and gloomy", but assured that "Chinese-Russian ties are mature, strong and stable like Tai Mountain".

“Crises constantly appear, but in crises there are opportunities, and opportunities also turn into crises.

The

, owned by the Communist Party, publishes this Friday an interview with Wang Yi about his recent European tour in which he affirms that his country "has stood firm in favor of peace and dialogue, on the right side of the history".

“China's position is to promote peace negotiations.

China supports Europe in playing a more active and constructive role in promoting peace talks.

Europe should carefully reflect on the conditions that can be created to achieve a ceasefire and the cessation of the conflict”, points out the head of Chinese diplomacy.

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