Chinese envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui will also visit Ukraine during a tour of Europe, China’s foreign ministry said. This makes him the highest-ranking Chinese diplomat to visit the country since the Russian invasion. “Ultimately, negotiation is preferable, and Mr. Li takes advantage of that,” says foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg.
While touring Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia, which kicks off on Monday, Li will focus on advancing the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China is demonstrating that it is “entirely on the side of peace”.
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Why these countries? “They are the largest and therefore automatically the most important countries in Europe,” explains Hammelburg. “Whether it leads to anything, we don’t know. At this point, the fighting and the situations are so tense that neither side is interested in negotiating. On the other hand, the threat from America and a number of countries is growing Europeans that aid cannot continue forever. So negotiation is ultimately preferable, and I think Mr. Li benefits from that.”
“If it leads to anything, we don’t know”
About Li
Li’s visit was announced during an April phone call between President Zelensky and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Li’s choice as envoy is controversial. Li served as the Chinese ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019. Shortly before his departure from Moscow, he was awarded the Order of Friendship by President Putin.
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Panic among Russian bloggers
Meanwhile, there is panic among Russian bloggers. According to them, ‘the offensive has begun’. “They’re all sitting there with their hands in their hair,” says Hammelburg. “According to some reports, there is some panic because nobody knows exactly where the Ukrainians will strike. This is exactly their intention: to create confusion.
Numerous reports in Russian channels about Ukrainian forces starting a wider offensive in several directions. This follows reports of Wagner fighting Bakhmut in recent days. Current reports are very mixed, some mentioning Ukrainians moving towards the Russian border.…
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) May 11, 2023
According to Hammelburg, two stories are now circulating. “An action is said to have begun near Bachmut, but a whole column of tanks is also said to be on its way near Kharkiv. It reminds me a bit of the Normandy invasion around D-Day, when the allies put the Germans on the wrong track. This is the kind of trick Ukraine would like to play now.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
