Putin says Russia supports ‘many of the provisions’ in China’s Ukraine peace plan

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed China’s extensive peace plan for the war in Ukraine during Xi’s visit to Moscow this week.

China’s 12-point peace plan, released last month, includes a ceasefire that would freeze the current battlefield positions in place, which would effectively solidify Russia’s current gains on the battlefield permanently. Ukraine opposes the plan, as it would give Russia a chance to refit, resupply, and redeploy troops for a future offensive.

“We believe that many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China are consonant with Russian approaches and can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement when they are ready for that in the West and in Kyiv. However, so far we see no such readiness from their side,” Putin said, according to Reuters.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Russian leaders spoke “positively of China’s objective and impartial position” in a statement. “The two sides oppose the practice by any country or group of countries to seek advantages in the military, political and other areas to the detriment of the legitimate security interests of other countries.”

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to resuming peace talks, while also welcoming China’s “willingness to play a positive role for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine crisis and welcomes the constructive proposals set forth in” China’s peace plan.

U.S. officials have already dismissed the plan and any subsequent peace proposals resulting from Xi’s trip to Moscow, while warning that Beijing may position itself as a peacemaker.

The first point in China’s peace plan calls for both sides to respect the sovereignty of all countries, including the withdrawal of Russian forces from sovereign Ukrainian territory consistent with the U.N. Charter, which National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby referenced.

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