Status: 03/22/2023 08:43 a.m
Ukraine itself often criticizes its partners harshly – but is cautious when it comes to Beijing. China is one of the largest trading partners – and at the same time Russia’s most important ally.
Ukrainian diplomacy – it’s rough at times. Be it hesitant arms deliveries or close economic ties to Russia, the Ukrainian government does not usually shy away from clearly criticizing partner countries when it deems it appropriate. On the other hand, the tone is different when it comes to China – Russia’s most important partner.
“I want to believe that China is on the side of a just peace. That means: on our side – and that’s important to me. And I also want to believe that China will not supply weapons to Russia.” This is how benevolent the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj comments on the so-called Chinese peace plan on the first anniversary of the war of aggression.
A twelve-point document that his adviser Mykhailo Podoliak dismissed as “unrealistic” on Twitter. Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, called it a “basis for a peaceful solution.”
But Ukraine has its own peace plan: “We have invited China to participate in our peace formula. We invite you to dialogue and are waiting for your response,” said Zelenskyy.
“Don’t push yourself to the limit”
The fact that China has even started talking about Ukraine is a good thing, Zelensky said back in February. In addition to a possible role as a mediator, there are also advantages for Ukraine in adopting a mild tone towards China, writes Kiev-based political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko on Ukrainian television:
For us, China remains one of the most important trading partners, as well as for many other countries, including the USA. Extremes should therefore also be avoided here. There is no need to push it to the extreme.
Ukraine exports corn, vegetable oil, iron ore
Before the start of the Russian war of aggression, China was one of Ukraine’s most important trading partners. According to OSCE data, Ukraine mainly exports corn, vegetable oil and iron ore to China. And imports household goods, consumer goods and electrical appliances from there. And yet, in comparison, Russia is China’s far larger trading partner.
Ukraine’s main goal is therefore clear, says Ivan Us of the National Institute for Strategic Research: Ukraine’s greatest interest at the moment is that China should continue to refrain from supplying weapons to Russia. “Yes, it supports Russia with words. But these are words,” he says. And military aid has not yet been agreed: “Ukraine doesn’t want anything to happen that could change China’s position.”
One should not ignore Beijing’s influence on Moscow, says Us. And so they want to continue trying to convince the world power China of their position.
But there are still fears that China could increase its aid to Russia if Ukraine expresses itself more critically, Politico magazine quotes the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Ukrainian parliament as saying. So the tones from Kiev towards Beijing will probably not be too critical.