China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun has called for peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, speaking at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on September 13, according to Bloomberg.
The forum included defense officials from many countries, including Russia and the U.S.
As reported by the Kyiv Independent, Dong urged for "more global governance" and for peace talks to start as soon as possible.
China’s Neutral Position
China claims to be neutral in the conflict but has strengthened its economic ties with Russia and opposed Western sanctions against Moscow.
China has also put forward a peace plan, but it does not include the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian land, which is why many Western countries have rejected it.
Despite China’s peace talks, it has become a major supplier of dual-use goods to Russia, which help support Russia’s defense industry.
Dong Jun repeated China’s stance, saying, “The earlier we sit down for negotiations, the sooner peace arrives."
Ukraine’s Reaction
While China says it supports Ukraine’s sovereignty, Ukraine remains cautious of Beijing’s role.
Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said China remains committed to Ukraine's territorial integrity, but President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized China’s peace plan, calling it “destructive” since it does not require Russia to pull its troops out of Ukraine.
China has assured Ukraine that it will not send weapons to Russia, as confirmed during meetings between Chinese and Ukrainian officials.
