China Hopes Russia And Ukraine Hold Peace Talks, President Xi Is Considered To Be A 'Backline'

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. (Twitter/@AmbQinGang)

JAKARTA - China, concerned about the escalation of the war in Ukraine, hopes Moscow and Kyiv will hold peace talks, senior Beijing diplomat Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart in a Thursday phone call.

China, which has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, urged the two sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire in a 12-point paper on "political resolution of the Ukraine crisis".

The plan, which has received rave reviews from both sides, calls for the protection of civilians and respect for each side's sovereignty.

"China hopes that all parties will remain calm, rational and restrained, and resume peace talks as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Qin told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, reported Reuters March 17.

Foreign Minister Qin added, China hopes Ukraine and Russia will not close the door for a political solution, no matter how difficult and challenging the situation is, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kuleba said he and Foreign Minister Qin had discussed "the importance of the principle of territorial integrity" during the telephone call.

"I underlined the importance of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's) Peace Formula, to end aggression and restore a just peace in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Ukraine has said any plan to end the conflict must involve withdrawing Russian troops to Ukraine's borders by 1991, the year the Soviet Union dissolved.

Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week, to then hold a virtual meeting with President Zelensky.

Analysts say it will be difficult for China to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. However, some say President Xi could act as a "backtrack" to start the momentum toward talks.