Zelensky and the US are open to China’s peace plan

Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (45) and the United States welcome China’s long-awaited peace plan for Ukraine. It may be presented on Friday 24 February, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of its southern neighbour.

Zelensky told journalists in Kiev on Thursday that he had not yet seen the peace plan announced by Beijing. He has already offered China a diplomatic meeting to discuss the peace plan. He said he has yet to see details of the plan before commenting further, but a meeting with China has already been scheduled.

“We have sent this signal to China at the diplomatic level,” Zelensky told Ukraine’s Unian news agency. «We would like to meet China – this is in the interest of Ukraine today. The more countries of the world are involved in the peace formula, the more countries think about how we can end the war in Ukraine while respecting our sovereignty, and the faster this will be achieved.”

US rejects ‘cynical ceasefire’

The US government expects China to present its peace initiative for Ukraine or further details on it on Friday. “As far as the peace plan for China is concerned, we first have to wait and see what the Chinese put on the table. That should be known tomorrow,” said top American diplomat Victoria Nuland (61) on Thursday (local time).

A “just” and “lasting” peace is important: “It cannot be just a cynical ceasefire that gives the Russians time to go home, rest and return, as we have seen. “

Warning about Chinese arms shipments

Nuland also warned China about arms sales to Russia. “We know that the Russians have repeatedly asked the Chinese for weapons.” Some Chinese companies are already trying to support Moscow. The Chinese must understand that arms transfers would represent a “complete change not only in terms of how (China) and its claims to neutrality are viewed around the world, but also in terms of our relationship with China.”

The US has already imposed sanctions on Chinese companies, Nuland stressed. The top diplomat said that the new sanctions package that the US government will present next Friday will also contain similar measures. The US government had recently expressed concern about possible arms shipments from China to Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 60, said the US had information that China “is considering providing lethal support” to Russia. (kes/SDA)

Source: Blick