Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia and other nations.

China’s Special Envoy to Visit Ukraine, Russia, and Other Countries to Discuss War

China’s special envoy on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, will embark on a trip next week to Ukraine, Russia, France, Germany, Poland, and other countries to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Li Hui, who previously served as China’s ambassador to Russia for 10 years, will have communications on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

China’s Role in the Conflict

Despite not condemning the war and pushing Russia’s account of the conflict, Beijing has repeatedly sought to portray itself as a neutral arbiter looking to play the role of peacemaker. China has also considered providing lethal aid to Russia for use in the war, according to the Biden administration, though officials maintain they have not seen this take place yet.

Through its 12-point peace plan, China continues to push for peace in the war. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are close allies that increasingly find themselves aligned together and in opposition to the West.

The Peace Plan

Putin said he supports “many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China,” which includes a ceasefire that would freeze the current battlefield positions in place, effectively solidifying Russia’s gains on the battlefield. U.S. officials have said this would provide Russian forces the opportunity to resupply and redeploy for future offensives. However, Ukrainian leaders have said any deal that includes territorial compromises is a non-starter.

Recent Developments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Xi in April, and Xi said he wouldn’t add “fuel to the fire,” possibly signaling that China won’t provide weapons to Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was not a scheduled meeting between Li and Putin yet, though he noted, “It will all be worked out through the diplomatic departments,” according to Russian state media Tass.

China’s involvement in the conflict remains a topic of interest, and Li’s upcoming trip will likely shed more light on China’s stance and potential actions in the ongoing war.