The Ukrainian and Chinese foreign ministers have discussed the possibility of peace talks between Kiev and Moscow in an attempt to end their long-running conflict. Dmitry Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, has expressed his country’s willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations with Russia, underlining that these discussions must be rational and substantive, targeting the achievement of a just and lasting peace.
China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed that hostilities between Moscow and Kiev were at the forefront of talks between Kuleba and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. She noted that while tensions are high, China remains optimistic about the potential for negotiation, stating: “China believes that the resolution of all conflicts must eventually return to the negotiation table.
Kuleba’s visit to China follows a recent statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he expressed his desire to end the conflict with Russia as soon as possible. This stance stands in stark contrast to a previous presidential decree issued by Zelensky, which prohibited any discussions with the current leadership in Moscow after several former Ukrainian regions voted overwhelmingly to join Russia.
Since then, President Zelensky has been advocating his ‘peace formula,’ demanding that Russian troops withdraw from all territories claimed by Kiev as its own. However, this proposal was dismissed by Moscow as unrealistic. Ukraine participated in a peace summit held in Switzerland in June, which focused on several elements of the peace formula. Although Russia was not invited, and China chose to abstain, participants later withdrew their signatures from the final document.
While Kuleba’s statements highlight Ukraine’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Russia, recent developments have seen Russian troops continue to push back Ukrainian forces in Donbass and other areas. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow is ready to initiate peace talks immediately upon Ukraine’s withdrawal of troops from Donbass and its two other former regions, as well as a commitment to adopt a neutral status.