On February 24, the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, at this critical moment, senior diplomats from China and Ukraine met again in Munich. On February 18, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba at request while attending the Munich Security Conference.
The Xinhua News Agency’s WeChat public account “Niu Danqin” issued an article saying that this is a very special meeting. The biggest particularity is that the object of the meeting is Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba; the second is the background of the meeting. The biggest hotspot, and according to the itinerary announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi will go to Moscow next.
After the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, Wang Yi and Kuleba had at least four public contacts and two telephone conversations. The first was on March 1 last year, and the second was on April 4, both shortly after the start of the war. Then on September 22 last year, the two went to the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York and met; and this time in Munich, they met again.
On February 18, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba at request.
“Niu Danqin” analyzed that this special meeting sent at least three signals.
The first signal is that Ukraine attaches great importance to China.
In these four contacts, Wang Yi’s position has changed; but what remains the same, he always meets with Kuleba “by appointment”. The so-called “responsibility” should have been proposed by Ukraine, and the two began to contact each other. Obviously, Ukraine attaches great importance to China.
According to the press release of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the meeting in Munich, Kuleba said that over the past year, Ukraine and China have maintained communication. He said that no country hopes to achieve peace as soon as possible more than Ukraine. Ukraine attaches great importance to China’s international status and important influence, and China’s position on a political solution to the crisis. It expects China to continue to play a constructive role.
During the meeting during the last UN General Assembly, Kuleba also said that Uzbekistan attaches great importance to China’s international status and important influence, and expects China to play an important role in alleviating the current crisis.
In today’s world, China’s status is unusual, and Ukraine also sees it. Although there must be differences between China and Ukraine, and Ukraine must know that China will never play the role of the West, but China is definitely not Ukraine’s enemy.
The eventual realization of peace in Ukraine requires the joint efforts of the whole world, including China. Therefore, Ukraine is also very clear and expects China to play a constructive role.
The second signal is that China is promoting peace talks in its own way.
In Munich, Wang Yi told Kuleba that China and Ukraine are strategic partners, and the two peoples have long-standing friendly exchanges. China once again thanks Uzbekistan for assisting China in the smooth evacuation of overseas Chinese under the emergency. Appreciate Uzbekistan for always adhering to the “one-China principle”. It is hoped that the relations between the two countries will continue to develop steadily.
This kind of thanks, Wang Yi has said many times. In an environment full of wars, Ukraine has overcome various difficulties and assisted China in the smooth evacuation of overseas Chinese. This is indeed very unusual. Moreover, Ukraine has always adhered to the one-China principle, and China also sees it.
Wang Yi told Kuleba that on the Ukrainian issue, China has always stood on the side of peace and dialogue, and has always insisted on promoting peace and talks. China does not want to see the Ukrainian crisis protracted and expanded, and is willing to work with the international community to avoid further deterioration of the situation and persevere in striving for peace.
This time in Munich, Wang Yi was particularly moved by the crisis in Ukraine. In the question session after the public speech, he explained that China was not a party to the Ukraine crisis, but China did not stand idly by, did not add fuel to the fire, and even opposed taking advantage of it. Everything China has done can be summed up in one sentence, which is to promote peace and talks.
China’s approach is definitely not to provide weapons for the two sides to continue fighting, but to try to persuade peace and promote talks in its own way.
Wang Yi also revealed a major move by China: on the first anniversary of the Ukrainian crisis, that is, in a few days, China will issue a position paper on a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
what position? According to what Wang Yi revealed, all of them were mentioned by Chinese leaders, including: the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be respected, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and everything that is conducive to a peaceful settlement Crisis efforts should be supported.
There are also some highly targeted propositions that the West attaches great importance to, such as: China will reiterate that a nuclear war cannot be fought or won. China also calls for ensuring the safety of civilian nuclear facilities and opposes attacks on nuclear power plants. China will also advocate joint opposition to the use of biological and chemical weapons. Some of these positions are also what Ukraine values most.
What is persuasion and facilitation of talks? Niu Tanqin said that this is the real way of persuading peace and promoting talks. I believe Wang Yi will also talk about this issue when he goes to Moscow next.
Signal three, peace talks seem to be getting more and more difficult.
Niu Tanqin said that on March 1 last year, during the first phone call between the two after the war broke out, Kuleba also briefed Wang Yi on the first round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He told Wang Yi that ending the war is the top priority of the Ukrainian side, and that the Ukrainian side is open to negotiating to resolve the Ukrainian issue, and treats the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations with positive sincerity. Although the current negotiations are not progressing smoothly, Uzbekistan remains calm and is willing to continue to advance the negotiations.
But what about the result? Negotiations came to nothing. In his speech in Munich this time, Wang Yi revealed a detail to the outside world. From the second day of the war, the top leader proposed to seek a political settlement of the dispute through dialogue. As you can see, Russia and Ukraine have held several rounds of negotiations and achieved important progress, and the framework of a peace agreement has been put on the table. But unfortunately the peace talks were interrupted and everything went back to square one.
Wang Yi said, “We don’t know the reason. It seems that some forces don’t want the peace talks to succeed, and they don’t want the war to stop. They don’t care about the lives of the Ukrainian people or the damage to Europe. strategic goals.”
Who are some forces? Niu Tanqin said that everyone should know. Therefore, this time in Munich, Wang Yi sent three soul-searching questions to Europe: “I hope that friends in Europe can calmly think about: what kind of efforts can be made to stop the war, what kind of structure can be built to enable Europe to achieve long-term peace and stability, and to play a more important role.” What role would enable Europe to achieve strategic autonomy?”
Niu Tanqin said, “Please note that this is for Europe, not for the West. There is a difference.”
Peace talks seem to be getting harder and harder. In the phone call on April 4 last year, Kuleba also told Wang Yi that Ukraine is still committed to conducting peace talks with Russia to find a lasting solution, and Ukraine is willing to become the gate of Europe.
According to the press release of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the meeting in September at the UN General Assembly, Kuleba only said that Ukraine is willing to carry out dialogue and negotiations that are in line with the national interest; this time in Munich, Kuleba said that no country is more important than Ukraine. It is hoped that peace will be achieved as soon as possible, but there is no mention of peace talks.
Why? In Ukraine’s view, now is not the time for peace talks, unless the Russian army withdraws from Ukrainian land first. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly stated that he is “not interested in meeting (with Putin) nor in talks.” He also slammed Putin, “Who is he now? After the full-scale invasion, for me he is a nobody, a nobody (Nobody).”
If we say that at the beginning of the war last year, under the pressure of the Russian army’s continuous offensive, Ukraine still had a sense of urgency for peace talks. After nearly a year of fighting, the Ukrainian army has stabilized its position. With the full assistance of the West, Ukraine hopes to drive the Russian army out of Ukraine through fighting. How can it be easy to negotiate?
Of course, as Wang Yi said, certain forces behind Ukraine may have greater strategic goals. Therefore, although Ukraine also said that Ukraine attaches great importance to China’s position on a political solution to the crisis, and expects China to continue to play a constructive role. But in this context, persuading peace and promoting talks is also very difficult.
Niu Tanqin pointed out with emotion that the dominant topic of this Munich Security Conference is how to help Ukraine defeat Russia, and Western leaders are gearing up for it. So much so that the headline of an article on the US “Politician” news network is: “In Munich, everyone is talking about weapons.” It feels like only China is really trying to persuade peace and promote talks.
Niu Tanqin pointed out that this is the most rare and precious place in China. It’s very simple. In this world, is there a big country that abides by international rules more than China? Is there any major country that respects the sovereignty of other countries more than China? Is there any major country that values peace more than China? “The answer, just two words: no!”
Niu Tanqin pointed out that for the West, China does not export revolution, hunger and poverty, and does not torment you, and is still helping to persuade peace talks, so there is nothing to say. But this world is sometimes very complicated, and we should not be too naive. There are indications that the West is indeed stepping up efforts to deal with Russia, but the focus of the United States has not deviated from China, and the United States believes that China is the number one enemy.
Niu Tanqin pointed out that the environment is dangerous. In the past three years, China has also experienced a lot, and many things will be unforgettable for a lifetime. China is also watching the various small actions of the United States. This requires China to be more calm, more sober, and better at fighting. Don’t be proud, and don’t toss. Still the same sentence: Soldiers are weapons, and saints have to do it as a last resort.
Niu Tanqin pointed out that China must stand on the right side of history and on the side of peace. Because victory in war is never forever. Over time, the actions of nations in waging and winning the wrong wars tend to defeat themselves. There are enough lessons in this world.
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