Ukraine's war enters its second year... China publishes a "document" of its peace proposal and "huge" US aid on its way to Kiev

Today, Friday, the Chinese government published a document of its 12-item peace proposal, in which it called on Moscow and Kiev to hold talks as soon as possible, warning against the use of nuclear weapons in the war, which entered its second year today.

"All parties should support Russia and Ukraine to move in the same direction and resume direct dialogue between them as soon as possible," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a document entitled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis."

"Nuclear weapons should not be used, and nuclear wars should not be fought. We must stand against the threat of atomic weapons or resort to them," the State Department said in the document, which it published on its website.

The document also called for avoiding any attack on civilians or civilian facilities.

"Parties to the conflict should strictly abide by international humanitarian law and avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities," Beijing added in the document.

Russian-Chinese talks

Beijing offered Moscow its vision for a "political settlement" of the conflict in Ukraine, at the conclusion of Russian-Chinese talks that took place on Wednesday evening in the Russian capital.

Chinese foreign policy official Wang Yi confirmed - after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow - willingness to play a "neutral and constructive" role between Russia and Ukraine.

Beijing has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions and stressed the need to take into account Russia's security concerns. In return, it has called several times for respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The United States said this week that China planned to supply weapons to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, a charge Beijing quickly denied.

Several countries have imposed sanctions on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, targeting Russia's economy, financial system, energy exports, central bank as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle.

international decision

One day after the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to Moscow and his pledge to deepen the partnership with it, Beijing abstained yesterday, Thursday, from voting on a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, which renews Russia's demand to withdraw all its forces immediately, completely and without any condition from the territory of Ukraine. hostile.

This is the fourth time that Beijing has abstained from such a vote since the war began on February 24, 2022.

The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on Thursday by 141 votes in favour, with 32 abstentions. Six countries joined Russia in opposing the resolution.

The resolution - submitted by Ukraine - stressed the need to reach as soon as possible a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, stressing the need to ensure accountability for "the most serious crimes committed in Ukraine" through fair and independent investigations and trials.

The resolution reaffirmed the General Assembly's commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution yesterday, Thursday, by 141 votes (Reuters)

huge military assistance

Meanwhile, the White House announced on Thursday that Washington will provide Kiev with a new package of military aid worth two billion dollars.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN, "Today, the United States is announcing additional military aid to Ukraine worth two billion dollars," without giving any details about this new package.

The senior official - who accompanied President Joe Biden on his surprise visit to Kiev this week - pointed out that the US administration is constantly looking for ways to "provide Ukraine with the tools it needs to prevail" over Russia.

He added that Biden promised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, when he met him in Kiev, with "more artillery, more ammunition, and more HIMARS launchers."

He explained that this new promise is in addition to previous US promises to provide Kiev with more armored vehicles and, later, tanks.

Britain and the Group of Seven

In turn, the British government announced that its President, Rishi Sunak, will call on the rest of the leaders of the G7 countries, who will meet by videoconference today, Friday, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, to accelerate their military aid to Kiev.

The British Prime Minister said in a statement that Sunak will call for accelerating the pace of providing the Ukrainian army with artillery and will also demand longer-range weapons.

In his speech, the British Prime Minister will stress that "rather than taking a gradual approach, we must move faster in terms of artillery, armored vehicles and air defences."

According to the statement, Sunak, in his speech, will appeal to all G7 leaders to hand over "longer-range weapons" to Ukraine.

Britain is the largest donor of aid to Ukraine after the United States.

It is also the first to pledge to supply the Ukrainian army with Western-made heavy tanks, but it has so far reserved the supply of Western fighters to Kiev.