China changes perspective on war in Ukraine

China is likely to change its rhetoric regarding the war in Ukraine despite its claim of “neutrality.” A delegation from Beijing may join talks in Saudi Arabia on ways to restore peace, The Wall Street Journal writes.

“Chinese participation would present a rare opportunity for U.S.-China engagement over the war as President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is also expected to attend. Attendees will be watching for any sign that Beijing’s thinking about the conflict [war], and its end, has evolved,” journalists say. 

Russia’s war against Ukraine creates more and more risks for China, which maintains Moscow’s tacit support. However, several recent events significantly affect the position of the PRC, the WSJ writes.

Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain deal” has negative consequences for China as one of the largest buyers of Ukrainian grain. In addition, the mutiny of the owner of the Wagner terrorist organization, Yevgeny Prigozhin, “raised new questions” about Putin’s ability to hold power. The journalists added that the devastating impact of the war reflects on China’s economy and Beijing’s global goals in Europe.

The WSJ suggests that China is changing its rhetoric and will likely agree to consider Ukraine’s “peace formula” to settle the war. It is expected that the Chinese special representative Li Hui will go to the meeting in Saudi Arabia. At the same time, journalists emphasize: currently China has not taken any practical steps to help Ukraine and continues to criticize the West.

This week, representatives of almost 40 countries will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to achieve peace in Ukraine.

“In Saudi Arabia the foundations of a new global political architecture are being laid. This architecture will no longer have the “aggressive subjectivity of the Russian Federation”, which has provoked key instabilities over the past 15–20 years, and a return to stable rules in the form of modernized “international law” is possible in its framework,” Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the Head of the Office of President of Ukraine, said. 

The first event in this format took place in June in Denmark. Ukraine plans to conclude the series of meetings with the Global Peace Summit, which it aims to hold in the fall.

In May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the idea of holding a global peace summit with the participation of as many states as possible to gain support for the Ukrainian “peace formula.”