On Friday, the anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, China presented its twelve-point proposal – where the opening point is, among other things, that “the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be maintained”.
Among other things, China also wants to see an end to Western sanctions and says that “dialogue and negotiations are the only sustainable solution to the Ukraine crisis”.
In the last point, it is said that the international community must help with the reconstruction of conflict zones and that China is ready to play a constructive role in this.
Met with harsh criticism
The proposals from China, which says it is neutral in the conflict, have been met with international criticism – including by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.
– China does not have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Stoltenberg says according to Reuters.
Even the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, is skeptical.
– This is not a peace plan, it is a proposal in which China has combined all its previous views, which they had at the beginning of the late war, he said in the UN Security Council.
Zelenkskyj: “Always something”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, on the other hand, says that it is “not stupid” that a Chinese proposal is coming, and that it is positive that China wants to participate in the work on a peace plan at all. But that so far he is waiting.
– China has shown what they think. The question is what comes next. The important thing is which steps are taken and where they lead, he continues, pointing out that there are parts of China’s proposal that he agrees with “and some that I don’t”.
Isak Svensson, professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Management at Uppsala University, is also cautiously positive about the proposals.
Hear why he believes China can play a key role in the peace negotiations in the clip above.