As Russian troops moves into Ukraine’s restive eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Monday, China denounced Russia’s invasion and said it would help negotiate a ceasefire as cracks in relations between the two superpowers deepened.
According to the Financial Times, Beijing was “extremely concerned about the harm to civilians” in the invasion, and “Ukraine … looks forward to China playing a role in realizing a ceasefire,” the authoritarian government said in a statement after a call between diplomats from both nations.
Mr. Wang said that the situation in Ukraine “has changed dramatically,” according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“China deplores the outbreak of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and is extremely concerned about the harm to civilians,” he said. “China’s basic position on the Ukraine issue is open, transparent, and consistent.
“We have always advocated respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. In response to the current crisis, China calls on Ukraine and Russia to find a solution to the problem through negotiations and support all constructive international efforts conducive to a political settlement.”
Ukraine said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had pushed Mr. Wang to press Russia to stop the war. The Chinese readout said Kyiv “is willing to strengthen communication with China and looks forward to China’s mediation to achieve a ceasefire.”
Beijing previously called for a diplomatic end to the conflict but stopped short of criticizing Moscow, with foreign ministry officials even unwilling to call the operation launched by Russia an “invasion.” This, as well as a show of unity by President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in early February, had been seen by many as proof that the war had China’s tacit approval.
The foreign ministers also talked about evacuating the approximately 6,000 Chinese nationals that live, work, and study in Ukraine, the report said.
The Chinese call for peace came a day after China’s foreign ministry distanced itself from Moscow, claiming the two nations were “strategic partners” not allies, according to Newsweek.
In the call Tuesday, Mr. Wang noted “China has always believed that the security of one country cannot be achieved at the expense of the security of other countries, and regional security cannot be achieved by expanding military blocs,” apparent references to Moscow’s fears of NATO expansion, which Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin criticized last month.
Politicians in the U.S. and Europe have criticized China for not doing more to prevent the conflict before it began.
