Putin's nuclear threat blasted by China as Beijing demands END to Ukraine invasion

China has called for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a 12-point proposal
China has called for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a 12-point proposal
SPUTNIK
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 24/02/2023

- 12:36

Updated: 24/02/2023

- 12:55

China’s foreign minister said that ‘conflict and war benefit no one’

China has called for a ceasefire and peace talks as Putin’s nuclear threat is ruined by the communist state pushing for the end of Russia’s invasion.

The country’s foreign minister claimed China wants to prevent the crisis from getting out of control as he noted that dialogue and negotiation are the only ways to resolve the conflict.


On the anniversary of the invasion, China has called for a de-escalation of what Ukraine President Zelensky called "a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity".

The position paper released today includes a 12-point plan which has been met with some criticism from Ukraine and the West.

It comes after Putin said on Thursday that Russia would pay increased attention to boosting its nuclear forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall on the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow, Russia, February 23, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Russian President Putin held a rally in Moscow in support of the war
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Russia said it is deploying a new intercontinental ballistic missile, rolling out hypersonic missiles and adding new nuclear submarines.

In its proposals, Beijing called for an end to Western sanctions, negotiations which would likely see Ukraine giving up territory, a Nato pull-back from its eastern borders and reconstruction efforts that would likely benefit Chinese contractors.

US intelligence has continued to warn that China is planning to supply Moscow with weapons and ammunition – a claim China denies.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg responded reservedly to the proposals saying Beijing did not have a lot of credibility as a mediator.

He said: “China doesn't have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

“We have not seen actual delivery of lethal aid, but what we have seen are signs and indications that China may be planning and considering the supply military aid to Russia.”

He added: "China should not do that."

Similarly European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said China had not shared a peace plan, instead just a series of principles.

“You have to see them against a specific backdrop, and that is the backdrop that China has already taken sides by signing, for example, an unlimited friendship right before the invasion,” she said.

“So we will look at the principles, of course, but we will look at them against the backdrop that China has taken sides.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi during a meeting in Moscow, Russia February 22, 2023. Sputnik/Anton Novoderezhkin/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Putin shakes hands with China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi
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Ukraine has said that victory in the conflict would mean pushing all Russian forces out of its territory, including areas occupied by Russia since 2014.

While Nato will not pull its forces from its eastern borders so long as Russia poses a threat.

China’s statement said: “Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiralling out of control.

“Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear war cannot be fought.

“We oppose development, use of biological and chemical weapons by any country under any circumstances.”

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