Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called criticism of the Chinese document on the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine unfounded and slanderous.  

“I think these people (representatives of NATO and the EU. -

RT

) express a point of view that is not based on facts.

They slander China,” Wenbin was quoted by TASS.

As the representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized, Beijing is ready to cooperate with other countries and "play a constructive role for the political elimination of the crisis situation in Ukraine."

Recall that China's initiatives on Ukraine caused a mixed reaction in the West.

In particular, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on February 24 that "great confidence" in Beijing and its peace initiative should not be experienced.

He recalled that shortly before the start of the NWO, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed an agreement on "limitless partnership."

The EU authorities also reacted negatively to the proposals of the PRC.

Thus, the official representative of the EU foreign policy service, Nabila Massrali, reproached Beijing for not taking into account “the role of aggressor and victim in this illegal war” in its document. 

Skepticism about China's initiatives was also expressed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

In a speech marking the anniversary of the NWO, he questioned China's ability to play a constructive role in efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

At the same time, a number of European countries reacted differently to China's proposals.

Thus, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in an interview with Radio y Televisión Española, said that the European Union needs to promote the implementation of the dialogue proposed by China.

However, in his opinion, Ukraine should lead the negotiation process. 

In turn, in Poland, which actively supports the Kiev regime with weapons and mercenaries, the Chinese initiatives were positively received.

“This can always be the path to peace,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with RMF radio station, commenting on China's proposals.

Kyiv itself decided not to give a specific assessment of the initiatives put forward by Beijing to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, after talks with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, who arrived in Kiev, announced the need to meet with representatives of China and added that a corresponding diplomatic signal had already been sent to Beijing. 

At the same time, Russia positively assessed the proposals of the PRC on Ukraine.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that Moscow is committed to the principles of compliance with the UN Charter and is “open to achieving the goals of the NWO through political and diplomatic means”:

“Like our Chinese colleagues, we consider any restrictive measures unauthorized by the UN Security Council to be illegitimate.

It is a crude instrument of unfair competition and economic warfare.”

“This implies the cessation of supplies of Western weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine, the end of hostilities, the return of Ukraine to a neutral non-bloc status, the recognition of new territorial realities that have developed as a result of the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as the elimination of all threats emanating from its territory," Zakharova stressed. 

12 points

On the anniversary of the start of the special operation, the PRC authorities presented their proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, which include 12 points.

The Russian-language version of the document entitled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis" was published on the website of the Xinhua news agency.

The document says that the only "way out of the Ukrainian crisis" is "dialogue and negotiations."

In this regard, China called for the launch of the negotiation process between Moscow and Kiev and expressed its readiness to become a platform for the resumption of negotiations. 

  • Shooting from the howitzer M-777 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of ​​Bakhmut (Artyomovsk)

  • Gettyimages.ru

  • © Pierre Crom

“The international community must stay on the right track in favor of reconciliation, pave the way for the launch of a political settlement, create conditions for the resumption of negotiations and offer appropriate venues.

The Chinese side is ready to play a constructive role in this,” the document says.

In addition, the PRC authorities believe that "instead of adding fuel to the fire and pumping up confrontation, all parties should exercise prudence and restraint in order to avoid further escalation and getting out of control of the situation around Ukraine."

“It is important to support the reciprocal steps of Moscow and Kyiv in favor of the speedy restoration of direct dialogue, the gradual reduction of tension in the situation and the complete cessation of hostilities,” the document emphasizes.

Along with this, Beijing called for a "balanced, complete and effective" implementation of the grain deal, ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants, eliminating the humanitarian crisis, lifting unilateral sanctions, and protecting civilians and prisoners.

The document emphasizes that "the Chinese side is in favor of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine and calls on all parties to create more favorable conditions for this."

In addition, the PRC declared the inadmissibility of the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons and other means of mass destruction.

China proceeds from the need to "throw away the Cold War mindset", stop expanding military blocs and focus on building a "sustainable European security architecture".

Alternative view

According to experts interviewed by RT, the “12 points” published by Beijing indicate that China has begun to pursue a more active policy in the “Ukrainian direction” and is ready to become one of the mediators in the process of resolving the conflict.

“China has declared itself as a responsible power, ready to support constructive proposals to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.

Obviously, now Beijing will act more actively, ”said Alexander Lukin, scientific director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a comment to RT.

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin

  • © Mikhail Klimentiev

According to the expert, in the published document, Beijing emphasizes the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation around Ukraine.

However, this approach, as Lukin recalled, contradicts the position of Kyiv and Western countries.

“I think that in the end, Ukraine and the West may agree with Beijing’s points for show, but in fact nothing will be done to implement them, to put into practice more specific proposals,” says Lukin.

In a conversation with RT, Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, said that with the help of "12 points" China intends to increase its role in resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

According to the expert, Beijing will use the document to consolidate efforts with countries that have not opposed Russia.

“The main target of the Chinese initiative, as I believe, are countries that are not involved in the conflict and have not joined the sanctions against Moscow.

The content of the “12 points” is the most acceptable for them,” said Kashin.

According to the expert, the position expressed by the PRC authorities on the Ukrainian crisis does not contradict the interests of the Russian Federation and, to a certain extent, can help Russian diplomacy.

In particular, Kashin admits that the "12 points" can serve as a source for creating new resolutions for the participants in the UN General Assembly.

“Most likely, this document will become an alternative to the permanent anti-Russian resolutions, for which it is proposed to vote at the UN General Assembly.

Draft resolutions based on the “12 points” will be neutral, restrained, have a real chance of getting a majority of the votes,” says Kashin.

no illusions

It is worth noting that before the publication of Beijing's proposals on Ukraine, the head of the office of the foreign affairs commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Politburo, Wang Yi, visited Moscow. The Chinese guest held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Both meetings discussed the Ukrainian crisis.

Wang Yi told the Russian President that Beijing, as before, would adhere to an "objective and fair position on the Ukrainian issue."

In addition, Wang Yi stressed that bilateral relations with Moscow do not succumb to the pressure of "third parties."

  • Meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Head of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Wang Yi

  • RIA News

  • © Anton Novoderzhkin

In turn, the United States is cautiously watching the developing partnership between Moscow and Beijing against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis.

Thus, on February 23, in an interview with The Atlantic, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken suggested that Beijing might reconsider its neutrality on the Ukrainian issue.

According to the head of the State Department, the Biden administration allegedly has information that China is considering the possibility of "assisting Russia" in matters of military support and assistance in overcoming the consequences of Western sanctions.

“Over the past few months, we have also received information that strongly suggests that China is now considering this option after all,” Blinken said.

At the same time, as the US Secretary of State noted in an interview, on the sidelines of the recently held Munich Security Conference, he held a meeting with Wang Yi, during which he reminded his Chinese colleague of Washington's concerns about possible support for Moscow.

According to the head of the State Department, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly told Xi Jinping about the serious problems that will arise in bilateral relations if Beijing ignores the warning of the United States.

  • US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Wang Yi, Head of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee

  • © Stefanie Reynolds

However, Beijing will not make any decisions based on the position of Washington, said Konstantin Blokhin, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“The 12 Points published by China just speak about it.

Beijing is making it clear that it has its own vision of the conflict.

And that he is ready, despite his inherent caution, to act as a moderator, ”Blokhin said in a conversation with RT.

According to the expert, China's political initiatives in the Ukrainian crisis are supported by "powerful economic motivation", since Ukraine is important for the transit of Chinese goods to Europe.

“China wants to unite all of Eurasia through trade routes.

Naturally, local conflicts are unprofitable for him.

The United States has a different goal - to divide Europe and the peoples of Eurasia.

For this reason, Washington will try to block Chinese initiatives.

However, not everything here depends on the United States, and China may well become an intermediary in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, ”summed up Blokhin.