China could play ‘substantial’ peace role in Ukraine as US seeks a quick deal

Beijing has already backed a place for Kyiv and Europe more generally at the negotiating table ahead of US-Russia talks

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Chinese peacekeeping troops pictured during their 2015 mission for the United Nations in South Sudan. Photo: Xinhua

Finbarr Berminghamin Munich,Amber Wangin MunichandAlyssa Chenin Munich

Published: 2:29pm, 17 Feb 2025Updated: 4:16pm, 17 Feb 2025

China could send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to help preserve any negotiated ceasefire in its war with Russia – as long as they worked with non-Nato countries like India, a former Chinese colonel has suggested.

In an interview on the sidelines of last week’s Munich Security Conference, Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, said China had “sufficient troops and military strength” to contribute to an international post-war effort.

“However, if peacekeeping operations are conducted along with European countries, Russia might see it as another form of Nato presence, wouldn’t they?” Zhou said.

As the three-year war in Ukraine moves quickly into a new stage, China’s role in peace negotiations and in the post-conflict situation came into sharp focus at the forum – Europe’s biggest security gathering – which ended on Sunday.

The United States is insisting on a quick end to the war and officials from the Donald Trump administration are set to meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia this week to start thrashing out the rough contours of a settlement.

In Munich, officials and experts were doubtful that China would be involved in the early stages of the discussions but most were convinced that Beijing would play a role eventually.