Ukraine says ‘China has a crucial role to play in achieving peace’
Top diplomats from Beijing and Kyiv met in Munich, as three-year war appears to be moving into a new stage
A senior Ukrainian official said on Saturday that “China has a crucial role to play in achieving peace”, following a meeting with Beijing’s top diplomat in Munich.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, amid rampant speculation about what China’s role would be in a war that appears to be moving into a new phase.
In a hugely positive readout posted to his X page, Yermak praised Beijing for its “principled position” on “nuclear threats” by Russia, following Moscow’s drone attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power station on Friday.
“We also shared Ukraine’s vision for achieving a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace. As a global player, China has a crucial role to play in achieving peace,” Yermak said. “The Chinese foreign minister expressed confidence that Ukraine must be a party to any peace negotiations, just as Europe’s participation in them is also essential.”
On Saturday, Trump’s Ukraine special envoy, Keith Kellogg, said European leaders would not be involved in peace talks.
