The Kremlin on Monday rejected China’s proposed plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine last week, stressing that the necessary conditions for a peaceful solution are not yet in place.
“Any effort that helps to put this conflict on a peaceful path deserves attention. We have considered very carefully the plan of our Chinese friends (…). It is a long process. At the moment we do not see room for this matter of taking a peaceful path,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters.
“The special military operation (in Ukraine) will continue,” Peskov added.
On Friday, one year after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Beijing released a 12-point document calling on Moscow and Kiev to begin peace talks.
Although China tries to impose itself as a mediator in this conflict, its position as an ally of Russia disqualifies it in the eyes of Western countries, which support Ukraine.
At this stage, Moscow and Kiev have not shown strong will to start peace talks and are reacting cautiously to China’s proposal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed it necessary to work with Beijing to resolve the conflict.
Zelensky also said he planned to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping soon.
Russian diplomacy also expressed its appreciation of Chinese efforts, while insisting on the need for recognition of Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
The Kremlin also attacked the European Union on Monday after the bloc passed the latest package of sanctions against Russia for its military intervention in Ukraine.
“This is all nonsense, of course,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to a question about the new sanctions, which target 121 individuals and entities.
The most recent sentences are the tenth round of EU sanctions aimed at undermining Russia’s finances and military supplies for the conflict. Peskov said Western countries are struggling to find more people and entities to punish.
“This explains the illogical list of individuals and entities,” Peskov said. “We are talking about such talented people and for them inclusion on the lists will not cause any inconvenience,” he added.
The most recent EU sanctions target dozens of Russian entities – namely companies or government agencies – including three other Russian banks. Being on the list means an EU asset freeze and a visa ban.
Source: DN
