By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
China has asserted that "all efforts" to support peace in the Russia Ukraine war should be acknowledged, refuting accusations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that China and Russia are undermining the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that China has not exacerbated the conflict and maintained a transparent stance on the peace conference. The summit, scheduled for June 15and16 in Burgenstock, will host over 80 delegations aiming to advance the peace process.
Zelenskyy accused China and Russia of pressuring countries to skip the summit, alleging Russian efforts to disrupt the talks using Chinese influence. Despite China's claim of neutrality, its ties with Russia have strengthened since the invasion, with increased trade mitigating Western sanctions' effects. Evidence suggests Chinese components are found in Russian weaponry, though direct arming is not confirmed.
China declined to participate in the summit, as announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, citing the exclusion of Russia and advocating for a conference with equal participation from all parties. China’s own peace plan, welcomed by Russia, was criticized for its lack of concrete proposals. Mao acknowledged discrepancies between the summit's arrangements and China's expectations, hindering its participation.