On Monday, a high-ranking Ukrainian representative stated that discussions concerning the Ukraine war, which took place in Saudi Arabia, delivered a significant setback to Russia. Meanwhile, China, a key ally of the Kremlin, asserted its impartiality in the conflict after taking part in the talks.
Over 40 nations participated in the weekend talks, including China, India, the United States, and various European countries. Notably absent was Russia. These talks were viewed as Kyiv’s effort to establish a wider coalition of nations backing its vision for peace.On Sunday, Moscow rejected the talks that aimed to set forth principles for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war. Moscow characterized these discussions as a futile Western endeavor to rally support from the Global South for Kyiv’s cause.
However, Andriy Yermak, the Chief of Staff for the Ukrainian President, stated during a briefing in Kyiv that the weekend meeting in Jeddah solely focused on Ukraine’s peace proposals. He clarified that no alternative peace initiatives were on the agenda. Yermak highlighted that all nations participating in the talks wholeheartedly endorsed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Furthermore, Yermak mentioned that the participants reached an agreement to convene another meeting of political advisers in approximately six weeks’ time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has championed a set of ten principles aimed at forming the foundation for peace, intended to halt the extensive conflict initiated by Moscow in February 2022.
These principles encompass various aspects, including the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of all Ukrainian territories under its control. Yermak emphasized that all nations participating in the Jeddah talks expressed full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a telephone conversation between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Wang assured an independent and impartial stance on the Ukrainian issue as China works towards achieving a political resolution.
China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement released on Monday, revealed Wang’s communication with Lavrov, asserting China’s commitment to being an “objective and rational voice” within international multilateral forums, actively advocating for peace negotiations. The ministry’s statement also highlighted that the talks had contributed to strengthening international consensus.
While China’s presence in Jeddah suggests potential shifts in Beijing’s approach, analysts noted that it does not mark a complete reversal in its support for Moscow.