Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, is set to discuss Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to China this week. The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been a source of tension between Russia and the West for years. As one of the leading countries in the European Union and a close partner of both Ukraine and China, Spain’s role in the negotiations could prove pivotal in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This article examines the issues at stake and analyzes the possible outcomes of the talks between Sanchez and Xi.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to visit China next week to meet President Xi Jinping. During the visit, Sánchez is expected to assert Ukraine’s right to decide on the terms for any peace agreement with Russia. The meeting takes place as Xi attempts to position himself as a mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, Sánchez thanked Xi for the invitation to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Spain and China. However, he also emphasised that discussions on “the global crisis” caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would necessarily figure in their talks. Sánchez’s objective is to communicate to Xi that it is the Ukrainians themselves who must determine the conditions for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Spanish Prime Minister also stressed the importance of Spain being recognised as a possible diplomatic interlocutor during “such a complicated moment in geopolitical difficulties.” Spain takes over the EU’s rotating presidency in July, and Sánchez is eager to suggest that his nation is an important player on the world stage and a staunch NATO ally of Ukraine.
The visit will begin with Sánchez holding commercial meetings during the Boao Forum for Asia on the Chinese island of Hainan on 30 March before travelling to Beijing to meet Xi the next day.
China and Spain have enjoyed stable diplomatic relations, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry affirming that the two countries “enjoy a sustained, sound and stable development of relations.” However, discussions are expected to be frank on the subject of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
In the official joint statement published after Putin and Xi’s meeting on 21 March, the two leaders praised China’s willingness to play a positive role in the search for a political and diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis. The statement also included China’s “constructive proposals” on ending the conflict.
However, a plan published by Xi on 24 February that reportedly offered a way forward for the crisis in Ukraine received a cool response from western leaders. Nato’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, argued that Beijing had failed to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, whereas the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speculated that China had already “taken sides” in the conflict.
Although Xi may claim to be a mediator in the conflict, Sánchez’s visit to China highlights the importance of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. By confirming Ukraine’s sovereignty, Sánchez and Xi are taking a stand against Putin’s unlawful expansionist ambitions.
Sánchez’s trip opens new possibilities for bilateral cooperation between Spain and China, particularly as the former looks to diversify its commercial partnerships. Nonetheless, the prime objective of the visit is to bring the Ukraine conflict the attention of the Chinese leadership and highlight the importance of respecting international law and the principles of territorial integrity. Sánchez is keen to ensure that Spain remains visible on the geopolitical stage as a key player committed to supporting democracies and defending the rule of law.
