(CNN) — China has reiterated its calls for a political solution to the Ukraine conflict on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion as Beijing comes under increasing pressure from the United States and its allies over its growing partnership with Moscow.
In a newly released position paper on Friday, China’s foreign ministry called for the resumption of peace talks, an end to unilateral sanctions and stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons, a stance Chinese leader Xi Jinping shared with Western leaders last year.
The 12-point document is part of Beijing’s latest effort to present itself as a neutral peace broker as it struggles to reconcile its “uncompromising” relationship with Moscow and fragile ties with the West as the war drags on.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, in Moscow February 22, 2022.
“Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must use common sense and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and escalating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deepening or spiraling out of control,” the document said.
Beijing’s claim to neutrality has been seriously undermined by its refusal to recognize the nature of the conflict – it has so far avoided calling it an “invasion” – and its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.
Western officials have also expressed concern that China may consider providing lethal military aid to Russia, an accusation Beijing denies.
The document reiterated many of China’s existing political positions, including calling for both sides to resume peace talks. “Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis,” he said, adding that China would play a “constructive role,” without giving details.
Despite stating that “the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively respected,” the document failed to recognize Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
And in a thinly veiled criticism of the United States, the document says it should abandon the “Cold War mentality.”
“A region’s security should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and given due consideration,” he said, apparently echoing Moscow’s view that it blames the West for provoking war through NATO expansion.
He also seemed to criticize the extensive economic sanctions that the US and other Western countries have imposed on Russia. “Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the problem; They only create new problems,” he said. “Relevant countries must stop abusing unilateral sanctions and ‘long-armed jurisdiction’ against other countries to do their part in defusing the Ukraine crisis.”
The document was quickly criticized by US officials, with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan saying the war “could end tomorrow if Russia stops attacking Ukraine and withdraws its forces”.
“My first reaction is that it could stop at point one, which is respecting the sovereignty of all nations,” Sullivan told CNN. “Ukraine did not attack Russia. NATO did not attack Russia. The United States did not attack Russia. This was a war of choice that Putin waged.”
In Beijing, European Union Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo told reporters at a briefing that China’s position paper is not a peace proposal, adding that the EU is “studying the paper closely,” Portal reported.
Meanwhile, Ukraine called the position paper “a good sign” but urged China to do more.
“China must do everything in its power to end the war and restore peace in Ukraine, and urge Russia to withdraw its troops,” Ukrainian chargé d’affaires in China Zhanna Leshchynska said at the same briefing in Beijing.
“For neutrality, China should talk to both sides: Russia and Ukraine, and now we can see that China is not talking to Ukraine,” he said, noting that Kyiv was not consulted before the document’s release.
Relations between China and Russia
The document was first discussed by senior diplomat Wang Yi at a security conference in Munich last week, when he tried to portray Beijing as a responsible peace broker during a diplomatic charm offensive in Europe.
As the last stop of his European trip, Wang visited Moscow and met with Putin on Wednesday.
Putin, who welcomed Wang with open arms as the Chinese diplomat entered the briefing room, said Russia-China relations are reaching “new milestones”.
“Russian-Chinese relations are developing as we had planned in previous years. Everything is progressing and evolving,” Putin told reporters while sitting next to Wang. “Cooperation at the international level between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, as we have repeatedly said, is very important for stabilizing the international situation. “.
Wang said the two countries “often face crises and chaos, but there are always opportunities in a crisis.”
“This requires that we recognize change more voluntarily and respond to change more actively to further strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership,” Wang said.
— CNN Beijing Bureau and Jake Kwon contributed coverage.