China, which called on Russians and Ukrainians to hold peace talks, announced that it would receive Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Moscow’s only European ally, followed by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron who welcomed the involvement of Beijing.
A close partner of Russia, China had so far refrained from taking a position on the Russian invasion, which entered its second year. She put forward a 12-point document on Friday in which she urges the two belligerents to dialogue, insists on respect for territorial integrity and opposes any recourse to nuclear weapons.
If Westerners generally welcomed this Chinese diplomatic intervention with skepticism, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to “work” with Beijing and announced his intention to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping.
Russia said it “appreciated” the Chinese efforts, while insisting on the need to recognize the Russian annexation of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow.
Standing out from American or German doubts, Emmanuel Macron considered that “the fact that China is committed to peace efforts is completely good” and announced that he would go to Beijing “at the beginning of April”.
On the ground, Ukraine said it monitors the activity of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. According to the spokeswoman for the Ukrainian army’s southern command, Natalia Goumenyuk, the Russian forces have mobilized nine ships including a missile launcher: “Since yesterday, they have doubled their grouping, which could indicate preparations for further expansion “.
“An air alert has already sounded twice today, over the whole territory of Ukraine and in the southern regions,” she added, reporting reconnaissance activities for the moment.
The Ukrainian Parliament announced that it had voted on Friday to increase to two kilometers wide a strip along the Ukrainian-Russian and Ukrainian-Belarusian borders which “will concretely be mined territory”.
Lukashenko on Tuesday in Beijing
On the diplomatic front, Beijing announced a state visit from Tuesday to Thursday by Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin. Belarus has lent its territory for the launch of the Russian offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Kazakhstan, an economic heavyweight in Central Asia, an ally of Russia, but which has so far maintained a balanced position on the Ukrainian conflict, has supported the Chinese proposals.
Mr. Macron, whose country is a member of the UN Security Council, considered that peace is “possible only if it involves a halt to Russian aggression, a withdrawal of troops and respect for territorial sovereignty and of the Ukrainian people”.
The French head of state called on Beijing “not to deliver any weapons to Russia” and to “help us put pressure on Russia so that it obviously never uses either chemicals or nuclear weapons, and that it stop this aggression prior to a negotiation”.
A strategic partner of Moscow, China abstained on Thursday during the vote on a resolution by the UN General Assembly demanding an “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops. On Saturday, it obstructed a joint communiqué from the G20 Finance meeting in India, according to several officials familiar with the discussions.
Moscow said it “shares Beijing’s considerations” while insisting on the need to “recognize the new territorial realities”.
“I want to believe that China will be on the side of a just world, that is to say on our side,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Inevitable Victory”
Mr. Zelensky, who has become the face of the Ukrainian resistance worldwide, had aimed on Friday for an “inevitable victory” this year against Russia.
The number two of the Russian Security Council, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev had also promised “victory”, affirming that Russia was ready to go to the “borders of Poland”.
Visiting Kiev, the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, announced the arrival of the first four Leopard 2 combat tanks, and that other tanks would arrive “in a few days”. For his part, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, mentioned the delivery of four additional Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, bringing his contribution in this area to eight.
The European Union approved its tenth round of sanctions on Friday evening, intended to hit the Russian economy and Iranian companies accused of supporting its invasion. Mr. Zelensky called on Saturday to further “increase the pressure” on Moscow.
In addition to new restrictions on Russian exports to the EU for 11 billion euros, it provides for the freezing of the assets of three Russian banks as well as numerous entities including Iranian companies accused of supplying drones to Moscow, according to diplomatic sources.
The United States had previously announced, in coordination with the G7 countries, a new salvo of sanctions, targeting in particular Russian companies and individuals in the metal, mining, military equipment or semiconductor sectors.