“We have never fuelled the flames”: China responds to Zelensky’s accusations of trying to disrupt Peace Summit

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China has never “fanned fire and fueled the flames” of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This was reported by The Guardian.

According to Mao Ning, China believes that all efforts to support peaceful measures in the Russian-Ukrainian war should be recognized.

Beijing’s official statement was made after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia and China of trying to weaken the planned Peace Summit in Switzerland by dissuading some Asian countries from participating in the forum.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman emphasized that China attaches great importance to relations with Ukraine and remains its largest trading partner. She added that Beijing’s position on the peace conference is very “open and transparent.”

“We believe we can get the understanding and support of all parties,” Mao Ning said.

Earlier, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated at the Shangri-La Defense Forum in Singapore: “Russia is using Chinese influence in the region and Chinese diplomats to disrupt the Peace Summit. Unfortunately, it is unfortunate that such a large, independent, and powerful country as China is a tool in Putin’s hands.”

China’s refusal to join the Peace Summit

On May 31, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China would not participate in the Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 because it was not approved by Russia. 

China has consistently demanded the recognition of the international peace conference by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation from all parties, and the fair and equal discussion of all peace proposals. Otherwise, it will be difficult for it to play a significant role in restoring peace,” Mao Ning said.

Commenting on China’s refusal to participate in the Peace Summit, Russian dictator Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said, “We support this approach.”

107 states and international organizations to attend Peace Summit

Switzerland hosts this year the Peace Summit, which intends to find a solution for the Russia-Ukraine war, which started with a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Switzerland has invited more than 160 delegations from around the world to join the Peace Summit, which will take place on June 15–16, 2024, in the resort of Burgenstock.

At least 107 states and international organizations will attend the Peace Summit on Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian President’s office. Kyiv said that the purpose of Zelensky’s visit to Southeast Asia was to explain Ukraine’s position and convince regional states to participate in the Summit.

The Kremlin said that organizing such an event without Russia was “not serious and even ridiculous.”

Switzerland stated that the Russian Federation should participate in the Peace Summit, as “a peace process without Russia is unthinkable,” but not this year.

Summit’s goals and Ukraine’s Peace Formula

According to the Swiss statement, the overarching objective of the summit is to inspire a future peace process. To achieve this, the summit intends to:

• Provide a platform for dialogue on ways towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter;
• Promote a common understanding of a possible framework to reach this goal;
• Jointly define a roadmap on how to involve both parties in a future peace process.

“Peace Formula” was presented in November at the G20 summit in Bali by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He introduced a 10-point document to restore peace in Ukraine. The European Union Foreign Affairs Council endorsed Ukraine’s Formula for Peace and said it would promote it globally.