Several European leaders are trying to persuade Chinese President Xi Jinping to put pressure on Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. President Ursula von der Leyen even says that Xi wants to speak with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky. But BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg is not convinced that this will actually happen: “We have never heard from Xi himself that he is willing to do this.”
“After the Chinese president’s state visit to Moscow, everyone hoped he would call Zelensky to start some sort of mediation. However, he himself has not said a word about it,’ explains Hammelburg. “And it hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll just have to see.”
Cease-fire
Hammelburg wonders what it would mean if Xi decides to answer the phone. “Xi will under no circumstances jeopardize his alliance, or friendship, with Russia,” the foreign affairs commentator said. The Chinese president has previously indicated that he is willing to mediate in the conflict.
According to Hammelburg, the twelve-point plan presented by China boils down to a practically impossible point: a ceasefire. “Neither side wants it until they have met each other’s demands. But this possibility is very small, because it is so distant that it is almost impossible to imagine.”
‘Glimmer of Hope’
There was reportedly a ‘little glimmer of hope’ yesterday, Hammelburg says. Zelensky is reported to have said that if his troops were able to reclaim much of Donbass, he would be ready to talk about the Crimea. Everyone then shouted that Zelensky left the door ajar, but the chance is almost zero,’ explains the foreign commentator.
“You may wonder what it will produce if a conversation takes place later”
If the Chinese want to mediate the conflict, they have to do so under certain conditions. ‘China always has the principle of not interfering in another country’s internal affairs. So if Xi is willing to talk more forcefully with Russia, he will never tell Russia to withdraw its troops. This is unthinkable,’ says Hammelburg. “So you might wonder what it will be like if a conversation between Xi and Zelensky takes place later.”
Source: BNR
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