The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Moscow appreciates China’s efforts to contribute to the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means, saying it was open to negotiations under certain conditionsreports “Reuters”.
China has called for a comprehensive ceasefire as part of a 12-point plan to deal with the war that began a year ago when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
“We appreciate the sincere wish of our Chinese friends to contribute to the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means… We share Beijing’s views,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
The ministry said it shared Beijing’s views, stressing that Russia adheres to international law and considers any restrictive measures not authorized by the UN Security Council to be illegitimate, as Beijing does.
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“Regarding the Ukrainian crisis Russia is open to achieving the goals of the special military operation through political and diplomatic meansZakharova said.
However, this would also mean recognition of the “new territorial realities” in Ukraine, Zakharova said, referring to Russia’s unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye – as well as Crimea.
Ukraine rejected the Chinese offer unless it included Russia withdrawing its troops to its borders since 1991 – when the Soviet Union collapsed – although Kiev has also said it is open to parts of the plan.
Kiev’s Western allies have also reacted coolly to China’s proposalswith NATO saying it does not have much confidence in Beijing as a mediator, given its close ties to Russia.
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He emphasized that Ukraine’s position is clear – the withdrawal of Russian troops to the 1991 borders.
