Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused both Russia and China of attempting to undermine an upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland. Zelensky claimed that Russia, with the help of China, is working to dissuade other nations from attending the event. This summit, scheduled for mid-June, aims to address critical issues such as nuclear security, food security, and the release of prisoners of war and Ukrainian children held in Russia.
China’s goal is to make sure the narrative doesn’t go too far toward a consensus for Russia to back out of Ukrainian territory. While the West is united in the opinion Russia should back out of Ukraine, the non-aligned world will be reluctant to go against China in this matter.
China’s Dual Role
Despite China’s public stance of neutrality in the Ukraine war, its actions suggest otherwise. Beijing has been accused of aiding Moscow by sending components for weapons and bolstering the Russian economy by purchasing vast quantities of oil and gas, thus softening the blow of Western sanctions. These actions have led to increased skepticism, especially from the United States, regarding China’s true position.
During a surprise appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Zelensky emphasized the need for Asian countries to support Ukraine. He also revealed intelligence reports indicating that parts of Russia’s weaponry originate from China. This contradicts earlier assurances from Chinese leader Xi Jinping that China would remain neutral and not support Russia with weapons.
Diplomatic Tensions
Zelensky pointed out that China, unlike the United States, is actively trying to prevent countries from attending the peace summit. He accused China of using its influence and diplomats to pressure nations into boycotting the event. This diplomatic maneuvering is seen as a tactic to disrupt any progress towards peace in Ukraine.
China’s foreign ministry responded by stating that the peace conference should include both Russia and Ukraine to be effective. They argued that excluding a major warring party like Russia would render the summit meaningless, reducing it to a mere public relations effort.
The Impact of China’s Support for Russia
The US has highlighted China’s role in supporting Russia’s defense capabilities, estimating that a significant portion of machine tools and microelectronics used by Russia come from China. While China denies supplying weapons directly, these dual-use technologies still significantly enhance Russia’s military potential.
Chinese defense minister Dong Jun reiterated that China has strict controls on exporting dual-use technology and does not supply weapons to either party in the conflict. However, Zelensky warned that China’s support for Russia could prolong the war, negatively impacting global stability and contradicting China’s declared commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Struggle for Support
Zelensky’s appeal for support from Asian countries is crucial as he seeks to build a broader coalition to pressure Russia. The upcoming peace summit in Switzerland has confirmed participation from 106 countries, but significant absences, particularly from China and Russia, pose a challenge. The US has promised to send a high-level representative, but President Biden’s attendance remains uncertain.
The Ukrainian leader underscored the importance of global involvement in the summit, stating that the more countries participate, the harder it will be for Russia to ignore the collective demand for peace. Zelensky’s efforts to engage with China have been met with limited success, as trade relations between Ukraine and China have deteriorated due to the war and Russian blockades.
Militarily, Ukraine has already lost the war. They are able to continue by the grace of support from the West. The war will continue and both Russians and Ukrainians will continue to die, as long as the West and China find it useful.