Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his hope for a fair and lasting peace deal regarding Ukraine, highlighting his ongoing efforts to balance relations with Europe amid a de facto trade embargo imposed by the US.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi stated that China desires a fair, lasting and binding peace deal that is accepted by all parties involved through dialogue, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Although Xi did not provide specifics on the details of the proposed peace deal, his comments are seen as the first time the Chinese leader has personally articulated principles for resolving the ongoing conflict. This sentiment mirrors statements made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in March, emphasizing the need for a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all parties involved. In February 2023, China put forward a 12-point plan aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The plan, which called for the removal of sanctions on Moscow and allowed Russian troops to remain in Ukrainian territory, was met with swift rejection by Kyiv's allies. Despite this, recent statements from US President Donald Trump suggest he may be open to similar concessions toward Moscow.

Xi's remarks come as he embarks on a four-day visit to Moscow, coinciding with Russia’s observance of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In addition to Putin, leaders from over 20 countries, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, attended the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square. Xi’s comments follow a proposal by Trump, who said it would be natural for China to play a role in facilitating negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Trump suggested a 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward discussions, warning of additional sanctions if the truce is violated. The timing of Xi’s remarks coincides with the upcoming trade talks between China and the US in Geneva this weekend.

While the Trump administration is considering significantly reducing trade tariffs, Chinese officials have urged the US to remove unilateral tariffs on Chinese goods. Additionally, China has been seeking to rebuild relations with the EU, positioning itself as a more reliable partner as the US takes a confrontational stance toward the EU. Beijing and Brussels have resumed mutual exchanges, and earlier this week, Xi called for both sides to properly manage differences and to resist unilateral bullying.

By Naila Huseynova

Source: caliber.az