Chinese President Xi Jinping on his way to Moscow. With them in their bags, the Chinese have a twelve-point plan for peace in Ukraine.
China He tries a new role as peacemakers In the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Monday’s visit is the Chinese president’s ninth to Russia, and the first after he was re-elected to a new five-year term on March 10. South China Morning Post.
Before the visit, the Chinese authorities provided a Twelve point plan Which Beijing believes is the correct recipe for achieving a cease-fire and then ending the conflict in Ukraine.
New York times He writes that Xi Jinping is expected to land at Vnukovo Airport in the Russian capital at 01:30 local time, which is 11:30 Norwegian time.
Researcher: – Xi believes that Putin has failed
Stein Tonyson, Asia researcher at the Institute for Peace Research (PRIU), describes Russia as a particularly important partner for China.
– Xi Jinping has invested a lot in his strategic partnership and friendship with Russia, since he came to power in 2013. He then described Russian-Chinese cooperation as the most important bilateral relationship in the world, Tennyson tells VG.
The researcher believes that the Chinese president believes that Putin has failed in the war in Ukraine.
– He fears Russia’s weakness, Tennyson says of Xi.
– I think he will try to discuss how Putin can get out of this misery into which he has led his country.
Tennyson describes the state visit as very exciting. It is not excluded that the visit will bring something positive in view of the peace plan drawn up by China.
These are some points he thinks Putin might agree with:
- For example, he might agree to allow the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian operations to help the civilian population in Ukraine.
- Putin may agree to guarantee continued grain exports from Ukraine.
- Putin can commit, as far as Xi is concerned, not to use military means to attack nuclear power plants.
- Putin may agree to pledge not to threaten or use nuclear weapons at any time.
– If Putin is pressured into making promises of these things, it could lead again to starting a dialogue with the aim of a cease-fire at a later date, says Tennyson.
On the other hand, Putin may also demand peace talks with Ukraine based on the current positions of Russian forces.
– Volodymyr Zelensky (President of Ukraine ed.amn) will never agree to this, says Tennyson.
It could have serious consequences
Two central questions about the visit are whether China will replace the loss due to Western sanctions against Russia, and whether China will support Russia with weapons.
– If China supports Russia with weapons, it will be a completely radical change in the global game, says Tom Rosth.
He is an associate professor at Forsvarets høgskole, and has written a Ph. D. on Russia’s policy toward China.
Rosth points out that Chinese arms support to Russia will bring significant retaliation from the United States and Europe.
– There will be a rapid movement towards the bifurcation of the global economy and the global community. Russia and China against the West. It would be very unfortunate.
Røseth thinks China will be careful with arms support, but notes that US intelligence has said so China considers arms support to Russia.
– China already supports Russia with products for military production.
Great symbolic value
Rosth expects Putin to try to connect China with his views on the war. He notes that Russia and China largely share the view that the war was provoked by the West.
At the same time, China has major economic interests in continuing economic cooperation with the West.
China also launched a twelve-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine, and recently negotiated a normalization agreement between rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. So Rosth believes that Xi will primarily try to take a diplomatic stance, but with an inclination to support Russia.
– He does not visit Kiev, but Moscow, which has great symbolic value.
“new chapter”
in article With the Chinese president’s signature, Xi marks the visit as a new chapter in the friendship between the two superpowers. The article was published in Russia’s state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta on Monday.
Before the visit, Putin said he welcomed China’s desire to play a constructive role in the Ukraine conflict. Putin wrote in an article in the Chinese newspaper “Renmin Rebao” (People’s Daily) that he is grateful that Beijing is taking what he calls a “balanced position” in the Ukraine conflict.
In the article, Putin wrote that the relationship between Russia and China is at its best level, even better than it was during the Cold War.
Yuri V. Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, said that the most important negotiations will take place on Tuesday, the New York Times writes.
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