China’s envoy to Ukraine calls for a halt to arms shipments to Kyiv.

Chinese Envoy Urges Foreign Governments to Stop Sending Weapons to Ukraine

The Chinese government’s envoy to Ukraine has called on foreign governments to stop sending weapons to the embattled country, as Western allies continue to boost Kyiv’s military.

Despite portraying itself as a neutral arbiter in the war, Beijing has not condemned Moscow or called the war an “invasion.” Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs and a former ambassador to Moscow, told reporters on Friday that “China believes that if we really want to put an end to war, to save lives and realize peace, it is important for us to stop sending weapons to the battlefield, or else the tensions will only spiral up.”

China’s Goal is Promoting Peace Talks and a Cessation of Hostilities

Li added that “China’s goal is promoting peace talks and a cessation of hostilities.” While both sides are open to peace negotiations, there is no indication that Russian and Ukrainian officials are any closer to starting such conversations. Li has met with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in recent weeks, but expectations for a genuine breakthrough have remained low.

Li also referred to outsiders “adding fuel to the fire” and who have made comments that “exacerbate the situation,” though he did not identify them. He used language often employed by Chinese officials when taking shots at the United States, asking, “Who is the real troublemaker in the world and the real security threat in the world? The global community has a keen understanding of that.”

U.S. and Western Allies Have Sent Billions of Dollars of Aid to Ukraine

The U.S. and its Western allies have sent billions of dollars of aid to Ukraine as it prepares for an offensive aimed at recapturing territory occupied by Russia. Last month, a collection of nations announced a long-term plan to provide Ukraine with fourth-generation aircraft, indicating their extended commitment to Kyiv.

Back in February, Beijing released a 12-point peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine, which was a non-starter for Kyiv. The plan includes a ceasefire but does not force Russians to leave the occupied areas, essentially providing them with the opportunity to refit, resupply, and launch future attacks. Ukrainian leaders have also said they would reject any proposal that would include sacrificing its territorial integrity.

Following Li’s meeting with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the ministry said in a statement, “Kuleba briefed the special envoy of the Chinese government in detail on the principles of restoring a sustainable and just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding, “He stressed that Ukraine did not accept any proposals involving the loss of its territories or the freezing of the conflict.”

U.S. officials have warned since February that they had intelligence indicating Beijing was considering providing lethal aid to Russia for use in Ukraine, though they reiterated many times since then that they haven’t seen it actually occur.

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