The peace plan for Ukraine proposed by China [5] seem like a sound high-level statement. Who can argue against proposals such as: “Respecting the sovereignty of all countries”; “Ceasing hostilities”; “Resuming peace talks”; “Protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs)”; “Keeping nuclear power plants safe” among several others. Yet, after the initial blush it all seems a bit like apple pie. As Ukrainian President Zelensky put it “… the question is what follows the words. The question is in the steps and where they will lead to”[3].
Initially Russia expressed some hesitancy to support the Chinese Plan, citing the “need to recognize the ‘new territorial realities’ in Ukraine” [3]. More recently Russia appears to have broken through any reluctance, “China’s peace plan for Ukraine could be used as a basis to end the war, Vladimir Putin has said [1] [2]“. China’s plan offers no provision for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian land [1] [2]. Ukraine has maintained it would not agree to any peace deal requiring it to cede the territories annexed by Russia [3].
So it seems more like a Piece Plan, ceding the annexed parts to Russia, rather than a Peace Plan that will resolve the conflict both in the short and long term.
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[1] Rob Picheta and Simone McCarthy, “Putin and Xi pose as peacemakers while Moscow’s war in Ukraine rages on “, CNN, March 21, 2023 https://www.cnn.com/profiles/simone-mccarthy
[2] James Gregory, “Putin: China plan could end war, but Ukraine and West not ready for peace”, BBC News, March 22, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65030929
[3] John Haltiwanger, “Russia Shoots Down China’s Peace Plan for the Ukraine War”, Business Insider, February 27, 2023, https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-shoots-down-china-peace-plan-for-ukraine-war-2023-2
[4] Karl Ritter Associated Press, “Ukraine news: Putin says China has a peace plan”, CTV News, March 21, 2023, https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/putin-china-has-peace-plan-for-ukraine-when-west-is-ready-1.6321837
[5] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”, February 24, 2023, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202302/t20230224_11030713.html
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