Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that he discussed the prospects for peace in the nearly two-year-long war between Kyiv and Russia with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as part of a long-standing effort to strengthen relations with Beijing. Kuleba wrote on X about their discussions at the Munich Security Conference: "I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine." He mentioned that they talked about Ukraine's plans to hold a global peace summit, which Switzerland has agreed to help organize. Kuleba noted that the two men "agreed on the necessity of maintaining Ukrainian-Chinese communications at all levels and continuing our dialogue." China has attended at least one preparatory meeting in anticipation of such a summit.
Ukraine has sought to strengthen its ties with Beijing and persuade China to support Kyiv's ten-point peace plan, which focuses on the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territories, restoring the post-Soviet borders of 1991, and establishing a framework for holding Moscow accountable for its actions. Last year, China proposed its own peace plan, aiming for a ceasefire, negotiations, and the lifting of sanctions on Russia. However, that plan has made little progress.
In a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday, Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing is tirelessly working to promote peace talks regarding Ukraine and called for negotiations to resume as soon as possible. Wang added that China did not create the Ukrainian crisis and is not involved in it but has never stood idly by and has not exploited the crisis for gain.
