China has tools to play peacemaker in Ukraine war, but it must use them ‘correctly’ and ‘keep neutral’, analysts say

China can use diplomatic, political and economic leverage to push peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, observers say

Beijing’s peace proposal shows its opinion ‘must be counted’ and delivers ‘weighty’ warning against nuclear weapons, defence expert says

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have held multiple conversations in the past year, noted Ukrainian reserve colonel Kostyantyn Khivrenko. Photo: AP

Published: 9:14pm, 8 Mar 2023Updated: 9:32pm, 8 Mar 2023

China can use its diplomatic, political and economic leverage to play a bigger role in pushing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to help the two sides reach a ceasefire deal, according to analysts.

Ukrainian reserve colonel Kostyantyn Khivrenko said China’s peace plan, released last month, reiterated its opinion on Russia’s invasion and was “not something new”, but the proposal suggested Beijing could have a positive influence on developments in the crisis.

“This document should be considered not only as a text devoted to a specific war, but also as Beijing’s declaration that China is a state whose opinion must be counted, or at least listened to,” said Khivrenko, who served in the Ukrainian defence ministry from 1993 to 2004.

In the 12-point position paper, Beijing urged all parties to “avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions” in the hope of preventing the crisis from “deteriorating further or spiralling out of control”.