Volodymyr Zelensky Urges To Meet Xi Jinping To Discuss Peace Plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he intends to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss Beijing's plans to end the Ukraine conflict.

On the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, he stated that the suggestion indicated China's participation in the search for peace. The Chinese strategy asks for peace negotiations and national sovereignty respect.

China's Peace Plan

Nevertheless, the 12-point paper does not explicitly state that Russia must remove its soldiers from Ukraine. It also criticizes the use of "unilateral sanctions," interpreted as a thinly disguised criticism of Ukraine's Western partners.

The Chinese government has not replied publicly to Zelensky's request for a summit with Xi. In the meantime, Moscow praised China's peace initiatives. Moscow's foreign ministry stated, "We share Beijing's views."

China has vehemently refuted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's accusation that Beijing is considering transferring weapons and ammunition to Moscow, which he made earlier this week. On Friday, US media claimed that the Chinese government was contemplating deploying drones and artillery munitions to Moscow.

According to BBC Global Affairs Editor John Simpson, China looks to be siding with Russia. However, it would prefer to find a way to save President Vladimir Putin by orchestrating a face-saving peace agreement.

The Chinese ideas resulted from Wang Yi's Wednesday visit to Moscow, where he spoke with President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Wang was reported by the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua as stating that Beijing was eager to "deepen political trust" and "strengthen strategic coordination" with Moscow following the meetings.

China urged immediate peace negotiations while releasing a proposal to settle the Ukrainian conflict. Some western nations rejected the ideas and warned China about its strong relationship with Moscow. Beijing has endeavored to preserve its status as a "neutral party" in the war while keeping tight ties with its strategic partner Russia.

Yet, Zelensky noted that he was certain that "peace efforts" can only be initiated by a country whose territory is under threat. This occurs on the same day as a historic UN vote urging Russia's immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, per WIO News.

The United States, Australia, and Canada adopted additional sanctions against Russia. In addition to restricting access to semiconductors, the US Departments of Treasury and State would apply "sweeping sanctions" targeting critical revenue-generating industries such as defense and banking.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada imposed fresh measures against 129 persons and 63 entities, including Russian deputy prime ministers and officials, while Australia slapped penalties against 90 individuals and 40 businesses.

NATO Members Seek Russia-Ukraine War Ceasefire

Moreover, Zelensky advised Russia's ally China to refrain from furnishing Moscow with armaments. Meanwhile, Zelensky dismissed the notion of engaging with Putin.

In October, Zelensky said conversations with Putin were "impossible," NY Post reported. Zelensky reaffirmed that any peace negotiations with Russia must be preceded by an immediate cease of all hostilities and a total evacuation of all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has maintained that Russia must withdraw its forces from the five territories it illegally invaded in 2014 and accept the country's boundaries from 1991. As a requirement for peace, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Friday that the international community must acknowledge "new geographical realities" in Ukraine, implying that the Kremlin should be allowed to preserve its territorial gains.

Although encountering stiff resistance from outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian forces, Russia has managed to conquer around one-fifth of the nation. It has gradually advanced near the city of Bakhmut in the east, where the worst combat of the conflict has occurred.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing government sources, that several of the most prominent nations of the NATO alliance, including Germany, France, and Britain, are urging Ukraine to pursue peace negotiations - even if Putin's soldiers continue to occupy swaths of Ukraine's territory.

The leaders of these three nations have publicly pledged to help Ukraine for as long as necessary. The remarks come only weeks after the US-led NATO alliance agreed to provide Ukraine with combat tanks and other high-tech military equipment to enhance its capabilities.

The first batch of Poland's Leopard tanks has already arrived in Ukraine, according to the prime minister of the NATO member nation Poland, who was in Kyiv to commemorate the war's anniversary.

At Friday's press conference, Zelensky was questioned about a remark attributed to US Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who purportedly stated that Ukraine would not be able to expel Russian soldiers from the entirety of the seized region.