(AmericanProsperity.com) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled he is “open” to discussions with China about how to end the war with Russia. China has produced a 12-point peace plan that includes “abandoning the cold war mentality” and “stopping unilateral sanctions.” The plans also call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Still, Ukraine has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire saying its territorial integrity must first be respected and Russian troops withdrew. Zelensky said, “I believe that the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad, but the question is what follows the words.” He added that he intends to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
President Biden has responded, saying he sees nothing in the plan that would benefit anybody but Russia. Relations between the US and China were recently strained by America’s accusation that China has been using aerial spying devices over its territory, something China denies. Furthermore, America warned the Chinese not to ally themselves too closely with Putin and said if any weapons are supplied to Russia by China, it will lead to “serious consequences.” The US has given Ukraine more than $100 billion in aid since the war began a year ago.
A peace plan by European powers is also reportedly in the works. Germany, France, and the UK have said that stronger ties between Ukraine and NATO will encourage Zelensky to enter peace talks with Russia. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also stated that Ukraine should have better defense capabilities when the war is over. The leaders have, however, stopped short of advocating NATO membership for the embattled Eastern European nation. Germany, meanwhile, has warned China not to supply weapons to Putin, while a European Union offer to provide more than $1 billion for ammunition to Zelensky has been proposed. Signaling a potential rift in the EU response to the war, Hungary has backed China’s plan, while other EU leaders have dismissed it as pro-Russia.
The European Union is reported to have doubts about Ukraine’s ability to end the war militarily.
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