China has decided not to participate in a Ukraine peace conference scheduled to be held in Switzerland next month, according to four sources familiar with the situation. Beijing declined the invitation because its conditions for participation, which included the involvement of both Russia and Ukraine, were not fulfilled, three of the sources indicated.
The neutral Swiss government is seeking a broad-based turnout from different parts of the world for the summit on June 15-16, which Bern hopes will pave the way for a peace process in Ukraine. Moscow was not invited.
China briefed diplomats this week that the conditions which were not met included that the conference should be recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, there should be equal participation by all parties, and there should be fair discussion of all proposals, one of the sources said.
China’s demands for an international peace conference that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine are “fair” and “impartial”, and not directed at any party, the foreign ministry said on Friday.
Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a news briefing after Reuters reported that China will not attend a Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland next month.
“China attaches great importance to Switzerland hosting the first Ukraine Peace Summit, and has been working with the Swiss side and all parties involved since the beginning of this year,” Mao said.
Beijing supports the convening of a peace conference recognised by both sides with the equal participation of all parties, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday suggested that China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine could participate.
In January, Ukraine extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to join a forthcoming summit of world leaders in Switzerland. More recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged U.S. President Joe Biden to participate as well. However, the U.S. has yet to confirm its representative for the summit.
China has close ties with Russia and has refrained from criticising its invasion of Ukraine, but has previously offered to help mediate in the conflict.
The Ukrainian, Russian and Swiss embassies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Switzerland was seeking to persuade more Global South countries, including China, to attend the conference.
With Inputs From Reuters
