China Endorses 30-Day Ceasefire Plan Backed by Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S.
China has expressed its endorsement of a proposed 30-day ceasefire jointly initiated by Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States, emphasizing its support for diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Ukrinform.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reaffirmed China’s consistent stance favoring a peaceful resolution to what China continues to refer to as the “Ukrainian crisis.”
“China supports all efforts conducive to a political settlement,” Lin stated in response to a question from Ukrinform’s correspondent in China. “We hope all parties involved will engage in dialogue and negotiations to achieve a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all.”
The proposed ceasefire, set to begin on Monday, May 12, was announced following a high-level call between the U.S. President Donald Trump and five European leaders – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Lin also addressed recent remarks from President Trump urging greater involvement from global powers, including Turkey and China, in brokering peace. “China is ready to work with the international community and continue playing a constructive role in resolving the crisis and securing long-term peace,” the spokesperson said.
Although China declared neutrality at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and made diplomatic attempts to mediate, including dispatching special envoy Li Hui to Kyiv, Moscow, and various European capitals, those efforts ultimately stalled. Analysts largely attribute the ineffectiveness to Beijing’s unwillingness to exert pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. By early 2024, China had shifted toward a more passive stance, offering political statements in support of peace rather than active mediation.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ihor Chalenko, a political scientist and head of the Centre for Analysis and Strategies, stated that Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow for the parade was a pivotal moment that might have altered the Kremlin's stance and prompted a peace agreement, yet it was uncertain whether China could have leveraged its influence to facilitate peace.