China Proposes Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire

China has presented a potential treaty that would end the war in Ukraine.

The Details: China has produced a 12-point “Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”. The proposed treaty has received widespread criticism from the West for aligning too closely with Moscow’s agenda. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has requested a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but Beijing is yet to respond.

For Context: The ceasefire comes on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine. China abstained from voting in the UN Resolution to condemn Russia’s military operation in March 2022, and from a vote earlier this week calling for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. China’s proposition comes amidst frosty U.S.-China relations due to the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon and Washington’s fear that Beijing will supply lethal arms to Russia.

Key Quotes: The document says “Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis,” and that China will play a “constructive role”. It also calls for territorial integrity to be respected, yet Zelenskyy notes “It doesn’t say whose territorial integrity, but our country’s territorial integrity has been violated.” U.S. President Joe Biden weighed in, saying, “Putin's applauding it, so how could it be any good?” 

How The Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum questioned China’s neutrality in the situation. The New York Post’s Opinion section was ardently critical, saying Xi “just wants to help the suckers of the world fool themselves into thinking he’s a good guy.”