By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-09-27 19:58:28 | Updated at 2024-09-30 11:43:03
2 days ago
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 adding 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,” Wang said after the meeting. “We must avoid a resurgence of a Cold-War mentality.”
China and Brazil were joined in their discussion by Algeria, Bolivia, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and Zambia. Neither the US nor the European Union took part. France, Hungary and Switzerland sent observers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised the proposal jointly offered by Brazil and China, arguing on Tuesday that “Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what’s needed”.
