US-Russia Negotiations for Ukraine War Ceasefire Amid China-Russia Phone Call
Putin: "We Are Striving to Achieve Lasting Peace"
Xi Jinping: "China and Russia Are Inseparable Good Neighbors"
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 3 last year (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency
As the United States and Russia began negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, the leaders of China and Russia held a phone call. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared updates on the ceasefire negotiations and expressed their willingness to cooperate.
According to China's state-run China Central Television (CCTV), President Putin explained to President Xi the recent contacts between the U.S. and Russia and Russia's principled stance during the call.
He also stated, "Russia is striving to eliminate the root causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace solution."
President Xi said, "At the early stage when the Ukraine crisis escalated comprehensively, I put forward four principles and other fundamental positions for resolving the crisis," adding, "In September last year, China formed a 'Friends of Peace' team together with Brazil and some Global South countries (mainly emerging and developing countries located in the Southern Hemisphere) to create an atmosphere and accumulate conditions for a political resolution of the crisis."
The four principles mentioned by President Xi were proposed in March 2022, at the beginning of the Ukraine war, and include ▲respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries ▲adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter ▲respect for the legitimate security concerns of all countries ▲support for efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
President Xi stated, "China is pleased to see Russia and relevant countries making active (積極, also meaning 'positive') efforts to resolve the crisis."
Additionally, CCTV explained, "China and Russia agreed to continue maintaining communication and cooperation through various means."
The two leaders also expressed their intention to strengthen cooperation.
President Xi said, "As history and reality have shown us, China and Russia are inseparable good neighbors, true friends who share hardships, support each other, and develop together," adding, "The China-Russia relationship has strong endogenous momentum and unique strategic value, and it is neither aimed at any third party nor influenced by any third party."
He continued, "The development strategies and foreign policies of China and Russia are long-term. Even amid international changes, China-Russia relations will calmly advance, help each other's development, and inject stability and positive energy into international relations."
In response, President Putin said, "The development of relations with China is a strategic choice made by Russia with a long-term perspective; it is by no means a temporary measure," adding, "It is not affected moment by moment nor hindered by external factors."
Meanwhile, CCTV used the term 'Yingyue' (應約), which implies that the call was arranged at President Putin's request.
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