Russian President Putin supports China’s peace plan amid Ukraine conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for China’s peace plan amid the ongoing military conflict with Ukraine, calling it a “genuine desire” to end hostilities, Al Jazeera reported.

In an interview with China’s Xinhua state news agency amid his two-day visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping, Putin praised Beijing’s approach, saying it was willing to address the “root causes” of the conflict and its “global geopolitical implications.” Understands the importance.

China’s 12-point proposal to end the conflict received a lukewarm response when it was released last year. However, Putin praised the additional measures introduced last month as “practical and constructive steps” that “elaborate on the imperative to go beyond the Cold War mentality”, Xinhua quoted the Russian president as saying. .

Xi Jinping’s complementary principles, outlined during discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, advocate reducing tensions, establishing conditions conducive to peace and stability, and minimizing impact on the global economy.

Responding to Putin’s comments about possible talks on war, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed them as ‘hypocrites’, according to Al Jazeera.

Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday, his first trip abroad since his re-election in March and his second visit to China in just over six months. Additionally, he plans to visit the northeastern city of Harbin for a trade and investment exhibition.

Relations between Russia and China were declared as a ‘no-border’ relationship just days before Moscow’s alleged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Beijing has refrained from providing direct military aid to Russia, it has emerged as an important economic partner amid unprecedented sanctions imposed by the West in response to Russia’s military actions.

Both countries have seen increased trade, with China benefiting from affordable Russian energy imports and access to abundant natural resources, including frequent gas shipments through the Power of Siberia pipeline.

Despite economic gains, China remains cautious due to the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. The recent imposition of substantial tariffs by the US on various Chinese exports has further strained relations between the two economic giants.

Additionally, according to Al Jazeera reporting, China has faced punitive measures over alleged support of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with the US imposing sanctions on several entities, including Chinese companies, for hindering Russia’s military capabilities. Are.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concern over the matter and reiterated Washington’s commitment to impose sanctions on enterprises involved in China’s alleged support for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

Russia views the conflict in Ukraine as a struggle against a ‘collective West’ that neglected its security concerns by expanding NATO and conducting military activities near its borders.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is advocating peace and urging China’s participation in a peace summit to be held in Switzerland in June. However, Russia, which was left out of the summit, dismissed the initiative as insignificant, insisting that the talks should reflect ‘new realities’.

Zelensky’s efforts to secure support for Ukraine also include requesting Patriot missile defense systems from the US to protect the city of Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, amid ongoing advances by Russian forces in the region, Al Jazeera reports. between.