China and Brazil are leading an initiative to gather support from developing nations for a “peace plan” to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Reuters and The Guardian.
China’s “Six-Point Consensus” on Russia’s war in Ukraine, backed by Brazil, claims support from 110 countries but has been criticized for omitting any reference to the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s peace formula is based on international law and includes Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine and returning all POWs and civilian captives.
On Friday, a meeting chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim was attended by representatives from 17 countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Reuters reports.
According to Wang, the discussions focused on preventing escalation, avoiding the use of weapons of mass destruction, and protecting nuclear power plants.
“Russia and Ukraine are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other and amity is the only realistic option,” Wang stated, advocating for international support for a peace conference involving both nations.
However, the initiative has faced criticism from President Zelenskyy, who argued that proposing alternative peace plans would only provide Russia with political space to continue the war.
The peace plan has also drawn skepticism from the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry, stating that Chinese companies are “taking actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression.”
Despite these objections, ten countries from the Global South, including Indonesia, South Africa, and Türkiye, signed a communique based on a six-point plan proposed by Brazil and China in May. Amorim indicated that the group, dubbed “friends for peace,” would continue to meet in New York.
The Guardian reports that South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has accused Russia of engaging in illegal arms trade with North Korea, echoing statements made by the US, Ukraine, and independent analysts. Cho also criticized Russia’s use of its veto power in the UN Security Council, arguing that it hinders efforts to end the war.
Ukrainian Zelenskyy criticized the China-Brazil peace plan as destructive and emphasized that true negotiations must involve Russia withdrawing its forces. Zelenskyy rejected any compromise that would involve ceding Ukrainian territory, urging China and Brazil to leverage their influence to stop Russian aggression instead of promoting inadequate peace proposals.
China has maintained strong economic and political ties with Russia, providing indirect support while avoiding direct military aid. Recent reports indicate that China is deepening its military-technical cooperation with Russia, highlighting growing strategic alignment despite Beijing’s claims of impartiality.
Related:
- ISW: Russia and China develop military-technical cooperation
- Diplomat slams China’s “peace plan” as cover for economic exploitation of Russia
- China claims 110 nations back its “Six-Point Consensus” on Russia’s war in Ukraine
- China pushes rival Ukraine peace plan before Swiss summit, diplomats say to Reuters
