Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba arrives in China, a close partner of Russia, on Tuesday for an unprecedented visit to discuss ways to find a peaceful solution to the war between kyiv and Moscow.
Despite its close economic, diplomatic and military ties with Moscow, further strengthened since the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory launched in February 2022, Beijing intends to play mediator in the conflict.
Dmytro Kuleba’s visit, which is scheduled to last until Friday, is his first to China since the start of the Russian operation.
It comes after harsh criticism from NATO of Beijing’s economic aid to Moscow. But especially a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opened the door to talks with Russia for the first time.
He said he was in favour of Moscow’s presence at a future peace summit.
A first one was organized in mid-June in Switzerland, with several dozen countries represented. But Russia was not invited and China therefore decided not to participate, considering that it had no chance of leading to progress.
“The main topic of discussion” during Dmytro Kuleba’s visit “will be the search for ways to stop Russian aggression and the role of China in achieving a lasting and just peace,” his ministry said.
China, which shares with Russia a common desire to act as a counterweight to American influence, has never condemned the Russian invasion and accuses NATO of neglecting Moscow’s security concerns.
“To get something”
But the Asian giant also called last year, in a document on the war, for respect for the territorial integrity of all states – including Ukraine.
China intends to present itself as a measured interlocutor in comparison with Westerners, whom it accuses of “throwing oil on the fire” by supplying arms to Ukraine.
At the beginning of July, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the international community to “create the conditions” for a “direct dialogue” between kyiv and Moscow, during a meeting in Beijing with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán.
Beijing’s envoy for the Ukrainian question, veteran diplomat Li Hui, former ambassador to Moscow, has made several diplomatic tours that have taken him to Brussels, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and Turkey.
China is also calling for a halt to the fighting. This position has been criticised by Western powers, who believe that it amounts to allowing Russia to consolidate its territorial gains in Ukraine.
But for kyiv, what role can Beijing now play?
Dmytro Kuleba may want to try to “convince China that it should participate in a second peace summit,” Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, a Berlin-based think tank, told AFP.
And “Beijing may try to get something” from kyiv in return, he believes.
Western sanctions
China had set its conditions for its participation: a summit must, according to it, “allow the equal participation of all parties” and a “fair discussion of all peace plans” – including the Russian position.
The visit is likely to be closely watched by Americans and Europeans, as China provides crucial economic support to Russia, which is under heavy Western sanctions.
The leaders of NATO member countries had also expressed their “deep concerns” regarding this aid at the beginning of July.
It is regularly denounced by Westerners, who accuse Chinese companies in particular of selling “dual-use” products (civil and military) to Russia, such as components and other equipment needed to keep Russian military production afloat.
China denies this and assures that it exercises strict control over exports of this type of product, including civilian drones. However, Americans and Europeans sanction Chinese companies accused of helping Moscow.
This is also a challenge of Dmytro Kuleba’s visit, according to Alexander Gabuev: Beijing could “try to take advantage of Ukrainian interest in a second summit” in order to “try to avoid” new Western sanctions.