US State Department: Chinese leadership’s contacts with Russia are not balanced by trips to Kiev

WASHINGTON, February 28 – RIA Novosti. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the US sees reason to doubt the seriousness of China’s peace initiative, and that the Chinese leadership’s contacts with Russia are not balanced by trips to Kiev.

On Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published 12 articles on the basis of which it is recommended to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Among them: respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, the resumption of direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine and the prevention of further escalation.

“We are concerned about China interacting with Russia, including in the format of high-level visits, in the absence of a symmetrical interaction with Ukraine. This shows us that this may not be a serious proposition,” he said. • Price at a media briefing.

He urged China to use its influence over the Russian Federation to encourage it to implement the first principle of the peace plan, declaring that it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

US President Joe Biden has previously criticized the Chinese initiative, saying it only benefits Russia. He called the idea that China would negotiate to end the conflict with Ukraine as “irrational”.