Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of disrupting a peace conference by pressuring other countries not to attend.
Speaking at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, in a dig at China’s pride, Zelensky said that Russia was using the country to disrupt an upcoming Swiss-organized peace conference.
“For us, it is very painful and a bit strange. Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he said. “Regrettably, this is unfortunate that such a big independent, powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin.”
The Ukrainian leader also declared that no one can tell Ukraine what its peace terms should be, or how the war should end.
“Everything happens on the territory of Ukraine. With all due respect to any country: neither China, nor Brazil, nor anyone is fully aware of what Russia brought with its war to the territory of the state,” Zelensky “It was the Ukrainians who died. No one has the right to tell us how this war should end. It must end in accordance with the law, international law, and justice.”
Zelensky’s remarks came two days after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China was unlikely to attend the mid-June summit.
“There is still a clear gap between the arrangements for the meeting and the demands of the Chinese side, as well as the general expectations of the international community,” Mao said. “This makes it difficult for China to participate in the meeting.”
Zelensky’s hope is that enough countries will attend the Swiss summit to pressure Russia to agree to a peace favorable to Ukraine. China’s lack of participation may dent that prospect.
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China has insisted on its neutrality in the war in Ukraine but has emerged as perhaps the most important backer of Russia by helping to make up for economic losses incurred through Western sanctions.
U.S. officials warned NATO in April that the Russian military had been able to almost completely reconstitute itself, largely due to the help of Chinese industry.
