China and Brazil hold peace plan meeting at UN, aim to be ‘partners to Russia and Ukraine’

China and Brazil on Friday sought to advance their long-standing bid to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a diplomatic effort marked by broad objectives yet few specifics.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced hope that the international community would convene a peace conference with a “fair discussion” of all proposals, without offering a date or location.

Wang added that “we oppose using the crisis as an excuse” to pile on sanctions, in an apparent reference to the US.

“We want to be partners to Russia and Ukraine as they work towards peace,” he said after the meeting. “We must avoid a resurgence of a Cold-War mentality.”

China and Brazil were joined in their discussion on Friday by Algeria, Bolivia, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and Zambia.