Editorial | Focus on peace, not Zelensky-Trump rift
With an end to war in Ukraine no closer, China needs to ensure a deal is reached and balance maintained in relations with the US and Russia
The extraordinary clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky remains the talk of diplomatic capitals. A negotiated settlement of Ukraine’s war with Russia is still no closer.
The ill-tempered, televised implosion of relations should not be left at that. The first move may be up to Zelensky. Several European leaders have united in support of Ukraine.
China has remained an observer, while its two-year-old, 12-point plan for a ceasefire and political settlement languishes after being rejected by Ukraine.
The Trump-Zelensky flare-up over the United States’ plan for a settlement with Russia has spurred speculation about what it means to relations between Beijing and Moscow, with a senior Kremlin aide visiting Beijing amid warming relations between Russia and the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been talking up relations with China. A few days ago he sent Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu to Beijing, where Xi told him the two countries were “true friends like steel repeatedly tempered by fire”, strong terms in Chinese.
It is important to China that not only a Ukraine peace deal is reached, but also that a balance be maintained in China-Russia-US relations.