China has not consulted with Ukraine on its peace plan: report | World News

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Chinese government had not consulted with Kiev as it prepared a peace plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. “China did not consult with us,” the official told reporters, including AFP.

Beijing has pledged to unveil its proposed “political solution” to the Ukraine conflict this week, in time for the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbor.

Ukraine’s top diplomat, Dmytro Kuleba, said his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had shared “key elements of China’s peace plan” during a meeting in Germany earlier this week.

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He added: “We look forward to receiving the text because, you know, it’s not something you can jump to conclusions immediately after hearing it.”

Kouleba told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Ukraine was open to dialogue on the matter.

“We’re ready to talk to people who have ideas, other ideas that can help us get there,” he said.

But Ukrainian officials warned on Wednesday that any peace plan should not cross the “red lines” drawn by Kiev.

“The red line is the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” the official said.

“There will be no bargaining with any Ukrainian territory. The president (Volodymyr Zelensky) has made it clear,” the official added.

Russia controls swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine it seized in the offensive, as well as the annexed Crimea peninsula.

Beijing is trying to position itself as a neutral party while maintaining close ties with strategic ally Russia.

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Russia said on Wednesday that Beijing had voiced its views on a “political solution” to the Ukraine issue following Wang Yi’s visit to Moscow.

“The Chinese partners shared with us their views on the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and a political solution. No separate (peace) ‘plan’ was spoken about,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has unveiled its own 10-point peace plan, calling for the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory and for an international court to prosecute Moscow for its aggression.