China seeks mediation in dialogue between conflicting parties Thomas Peter/Portal 04/29/2020
Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues this Saturday (25) in Ukraine, particularly in the east of the country, at a time when China is stepping up its mediation efforts in search of a solution to a conflict that erupted last year on Friday came to an end (24).
China, Russia’s ally, has not taken a position on the invasion but released a 12point document on Friday (24th) calling for dialogue between the parties, insisting on respect for territorial integrity and opposing the use of weapons pronounce nuclear.
Western countries viewed Chinese diplomatic intervention with skepticism, but President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to “work” with Beijing and announced his intention to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Russia said it “appreciated” the Chinese effort but insisted on the need to recognize Moscow’s claimed annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
Despite the questions from Germany and the US, French President Emmanuel Macron called China’s commitment to peace efforts a very good thing.” He announced that he would travel to Beijing in early April.
Lukashenko in Beijing
Russia’s strategic ally China last Thursday (23rd) abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops.
Macron, whose country is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, believed that peace “is only possible if it includes the end of Russian aggression, the withdrawal of troops and respect for territorial sovereignty and the Ukrainian people”.
The French president called on China “not to supply arms to Russia” and “to help pressure Russia to never appear to use chemical or nuclear (weapons) and to stop this aggression before a negotiation.”
Chinese authorities this Saturday announced the February 28 visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who ceded Belarusian territory to start the Russian offensive.
Kazakhstan, a country with strong economic clout in Central Asia and an ally of Russia that has so far taken a neutral stance on the conflict, expressed support for the Chinese proposal.
“Inevitable Victory”
On the battlefield, Ukraine announced that it was monitoring the activities of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. Russian forces have mobilized nine ships, including a rocket launcher, according to spokeswoman for the Southern Command of the Ukrainian Army Natalia Gumenyuk.
“As of yesterday, they have doubled their presence, which could indicate preparations for further expansion. Today, an air alert has already been sounded twice across Ukraine,” she said.
The Ukrainian parliament has approved the twokilometre expansion of a strip along the UkraineRussia and UkraineBelarus borders that will be “minefields”.
On Friday, the anniversary of the invasion, Ukraine’s president said he considered his country’s victory over Russia this year “inevitable”.
The number two on the Russian Security Council, exPresident Dmitry Medvedev, also promised “victory” and said Russia was ready to follow “to the borders of Poland”.
During a visit to Kiev, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the delivery of four Leopard 2 tanks and said more tanks would arrive in a few days. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also mentioned the delivery of four additional Leopard 2s, bringing the total to eight.
The European Union also approved the 10th package of sanctions against the Russian economy and Iranian companies accused of helping the invasion. The measures affect 121 people and institutions, including Iranian drone manufacturers.
Zelenskyy repeated his call for “increased pressure” on Moscow on Saturday.
In addition to new restrictions on Russian exports to the common area worth 11 billion euros (60.2 billion BRL at current exchange rates), the EU intends to freeze the assets of three Russian banks and several institutions, including Iranian companies accused of supplying them Drones to Moscow, according to diplomatic sources.
The US government, in coordination with the G7 countries, has announced a new set of sanctions aimed specifically at Russian citizens and companies involved in metallurgy, mining, military equipment and semiconductors.