Zelenskiy of Ukraine urges China to increase its pressure on Russia

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, stated on Wednesday that while Beijing should put more pressure on Moscow to stop the war, Kyiv does not want China to mediate its 29-month-old conflict with Russia.

Speaking to French media, Zelenskiy added that although Ukraine insisted on regaining its post-Soviet boundaries from 1991, it would think about starting negotiations with Russia if the circumstances were suitable before withdrawing all of Moscow’s soldiers.

“China has the power to make Russia end this war if it so chooses. China is not the mediator I want to be. Zelenskiy told reporters, “I hope it puts pressure on Russia to end this war.”

“The European Union is exerting pressure in the same manner as the United States is. Pressure on Russia should increase with a nation’s level of influence.”

China has presented its own peace plan to end the war based on non-escalation, direct negotiations, and humanitarian assistance. China and Russia have a “no limits” alliance.

It did not attend the first peace summit on Ukraine, which took place in Switzerland last month, but it has increased diplomatic efforts and welcomed Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, last week.

Zelenskiy restated his prior argument that Russia, which was not invited to the peace summit, ought to be present at a follow-up event he intends to host in the latter part of the year.

He was cited as adding, “Otherwise, we will not obtain viable results.”

“Everything we require will be fulfilled. That does not imply that we will reclaim our borders from 1991 at that same moment.”

He stated that “recovering our territorial integrity, but that does not mean that this must be done solely through arms” is a necessary part of a just settlement for Ukraine.

After seizing the town of Avdiivka in February, Russian forces have been gradually advancing in the eastern sector of the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front, occupying just less than 20% of Ukrainian land at the moment.

Zelenskiy acknowledged the gains in his remarks, blaming them on brigade equipping delays, Russia’s indifference to its own losses, and limitations placed by Kyiv’s Western allies on the employment of their weapons.

“The whole eastern front is challenging. “They are focusing all of their efforts in the east,” he remarked, mentioning their journey to the city of Sloviansk, which is under Ukrainian control.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow was open to holding peace negotiations with Ukraine, but only if the country gave up the four areas it had annexed in 2022.

According to Zelenskiy, ceding land was not an option.

“It’s not feasible. It is in opposition to our constitution. And it is a matter that only we can decide,” he remarked.