China has called for a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine and the start of peace talks as part of a 12-point proposal to end the war.
The plan, issued Friday by China’s foreign ministry, urges the ceasing of hostilities, the upholding of sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolving the humanitarian crisis, and facilitating grain exports, according to a full text released by Xinhua.
The plan also places importance on keeping nuclear power plants safe and reducing strategic risks posed by the use of nuclear weapons. It also calls for the end of the Cold War mentality and the end of unilateral sanctions.
“Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ against other countries, so as to do their share in de-escalating the Ukraine crisis and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and better the lives of their people,” the report says.
China says it stands ready to provide assistance and play a constructive role in this endeavor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the Chinese plan an important first step.
“I think that, in general, the fact that China started talking about peace in Ukraine, I think that it is not bad. It is important for us that all states are on our side, on the side of justice,” he told a news conference Friday.
Meanwhile, the US has said it will reserve judgment, however, it remains skeptical of China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that he hopes countries that have a relationship with Russia will use that influence to help end the war.
“China is in a position to do that in ways that we just aren’t,” he said.
The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution Thursday calling for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.
The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7, with 32 abstentions.
