Since his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump has pushed to end the war in Ukraine, including through talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
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But China – once seen as a potential mediator in the conflict – has been strikingly absent from the negotiations.
The US reached separate deals with Russia and Ukraine in March to halt military activity over the Black Sea, and negotiations between American and Russian officials have continued. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has met Putin four times in just over two months.
As Moscow launched a barrage of missiles on Kyiv in April, Trump again called for a peace deal. It was later reported by US media outlet NBC that a “term sheet” with 22 proposals, including a 30-day ceasefire, had been drawn up by American, European and Ukrainian negotiators and that it met Putin’s demand that the US would not support Ukraine joining Nato.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to meet Putin for “direct talks” in Turkey on Thursday – a meeting proposed by the Russian leader after Brussels pressed Moscow to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face further sanctions.
It is unclear whether Ukraine and Russia can reach a peace deal after three years of fighting, but it is evident that China has not been part of the recent developments.
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Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday said Beijing supported all efforts to achieve peace, when asked about a potential ceasefire.