Published: 4:08am, 9 Dec 2024Updated: 4:32am, 9 Dec 2024
US president-elect Donald Trump has suggested that China could play a key role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, in comments that referenced the dramatic collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s 50-year regime in Syria on Sunday.
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“Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting,” Trump said in a social media post.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Beijing has deepened its ties with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, describing the bilateral relationship as a “no limits” partnership.
The outgoing US administration of US President Joe Biden has repeatedly accused Beijing of aiding Russia’s “war machine” – a charge China has denied.
In May, Beijing unveiled a six-point peace proposal for Ukraine, jointly with Brazil, calling for a halt to any escalation on either side, a peace conference and humanitarian aid.