"The issue of integrated security": the West is trying to convince the head of the PRC to hold talks with Zelensky

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the state news agency Xinhua reported. During the conversation, the politicians discussed, in particular, the Ukrainian crisis.

The Chinese President outlined Beijing's position and expressed hope that all parties will build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture through dialogue and consultation.

"Xi Jinping stressed that China's position on this issue is consistent ... and to promote peaceful negotiations and a political settlement. According to him, the parties should discard the mentality of the Cold War, resist the bloc confrontation, and also abandon extremely tough sanctions and pressure," the report said.

Xinhua also notes that Sanchez at the talks presented Spain's position on the Ukrainian crisis, spoke positively about China's plan for a political settlement of the conflict and appreciated Beijing's constructive role in this matter.

Somewhat differently, the discussion of the Ukrainian crisis was reported by the press service of Pedro Sanchez. As indicated on the website of the Prime Minister, during the talks he noted that it is necessary to rely on a lasting and just peace with respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. According to Sanchez, this allegedly implies the so-called peace formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In addition, according to the website of the head of the Cabinet, Sanchez tried to convince Xi Jinping to hold talks with Zelensky. Earlier, Beijing was also called for contact with the Ukrainian leader in the White House.

• Pedro Sanchez and Xi Jinping
• AFP
• © Borja Puig de la Bellacasa / LA MONCLOA

No preconditions

It is worth noting that, following Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intend to visit China.

According to analysts, one of the topics of negotiations between the parties is likely to be Ukraine. However, experts drew attention to the fact that before her visit to Beijing, von der Leyen criticized China and called on EU states to reconsider their diplomatic and economic relations with this country. She spoke with this position at a meeting organized by the European Political Center and the Mercator Institute of Chinese Studies.

In particular, the head of the EC said that China has expanded its "policy of disinformation, economic and trade coercion." In addition, according to von der Leyen, the PRC allegedly pursues the goal of "systemic change in the international order", in the center of which beijing would be.

She also believes that in Chinese politics, "individual rights are subject to national sovereignty, and "security and the economy prevail over political and civil rights." The head of the EC added that the issue of human rights will be "another test" of how – and to what extent – Europe can cooperate with China.

At the same time, von der Leyen considers Beijing's position on the special operation in Ukraine to be a determining factor for relations between the EU and China. In her speech, she expressed disagreement with china's proposals for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, saying that it is Kiev that should determine the terms of a just peace, which, in her opinion, requires the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Earlier, Beijing came up with a plan for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, which involves, in particular, the cessation of hostilities and the beginning of peace negotiations. In addition, the document states that "attempts to ensure their own security to the detriment of the security of other countries, as well as the policy of bloc confrontation" are unacceptable.

The PRC's plan emphasizes that all parties, "instead of adding fuel to the fire and pumping up the confrontation," should exercise prudence and restraint in order to avoid further escalation and getting out of control of the situation around Ukraine.

• Ursula von der Leyen
• AP
• © Virginia Mayo

Russian President Vladimir Putin, following recent talks with Xi Jinping in Moscow, noted that many points of the Chinese peace plan for Ukraine can be taken as a basis for a settlement when the West and Kiev are ready for this.

However, in the West, the PRC's initiative was actually rejected. According to experts interviewed by RT, the White House believes that China's plan does not take into account the interests of Ukraine, since there are no direct contacts between Beijing and Kiev. In addition, Washington opposed the immediate ceasefire, as this allegedly could play into the hands of Moscow.

"From the American point of view, we can talk about peace only after Russia is defeated. That is, when Ukraine will receive all the territories that it controlled until 2014, including Crimea. In contrast, the Chinese plan involves negotiations without preconditions and the lifting of sanctions. But this is unacceptable for the West, "said Alexander Lukin, scientific director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In turn, the director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University, Alexei Maslov, believes that the West rejects the PRC's plan, as it is trying not to allow China to take a more significant role in the international arena.

"If china's peace plan succeeds, it will strengthen the position of Chinese diplomacy. And (in the West. - RT) China in no case want to give the opportunity to somehow prove itself as an important world player, "the expert said.

"There is nothing to talk about with Zelensky"

According to analysts, in Beijing, Macron and von der Leyen will try to convince Xi Jinping to hold talks with Zelensky. However, experts believe that the Chinese leader will not do this yet, since the necessary conditions are not ripe for dialogue with the Ukrainian president.

"I do not think that the Chinese president is not going to communicate with Zelensky at all, since China has put forward a peace settlement plan and for sure Xi Jinping will contact the Ukrainian president at some point. But the conditions must be ripe for such contacts. In particular, the readiness (of the West and Kiev. - RT) for a peaceful settlement should be indicated. In order not to repeat the situation when a meeting of the heads of Russia and China was held in the Kremlin, and in parallel from the United States stated that there could be no peaceful settlement, "said Sergei Sanakoev, head of the Russian-Chinese analytical center, in a conversation with RT.

• Flags of the People's Republic of China and the EU
• Legion-Media
• © Zoonar

The analyst added that China is interested not only in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, but also in solving the broader issue of integrated security in the world.

"President Xi Jinping should receive signals, but not so much from Kiev as from Washington, because the main point of the settlement is still comprehensive security and this issue cannot be resolved only within the framework of the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. Therefore, until Beijing hears clear signals that the West is ready to discuss a comprehensive security system around the world, I think there is nothing to talk about here and now with Zelensky," Sanakoyev said.

In turn, Oleksiy Maslov stated that it makes no sense for Beijing to negotiate with Zelensky, since the Ukrainian leader is not an independent figure.

"There are two obvious reasons for Beijing's refusal to negotiate with Zelensky. First, the President of Ukraine has absolutely no negotiating position. More precisely, his position leads to an impasse in any negotiations. Obviously, this is done deliberately so that there are no negotiations. Secondly, Zelensky is absolutely not independent in making decisions," the expert said.

In addition, experts believe that it will be difficult for Macron and von der Leyen to change China's position on Ukraine, including due to the lack of real levers of influence on Beijing in Brussels.

"The fact is that Western Europe has very little leverage over China. For example, restricting trade with China would automatically hit the investments that Europeans themselves receive from China. European companies operating in China would also be hit. Therefore, the EU does not yet firmly oppose china, but is trying to persuade China, "Maslov said.

He also expressed confidence that China will not succumb to Pressure from the West and will not take its side in the Ukrainian issue.

"The West is trying to make China take an anti-Russian position. But Beijing won't do that. The Chinese position is very soft and flexible: the PRC does not determine who is right or wrong in this situation, but proposes the start of negotiations as such, without preconditions. According to the Chinese side, the most important thing now is a ceasefire. After that, any negotiations will be possible," the expert concluded.