Ukraine says China needed for peace process with Russia, following high-level Davos talks

DAVOS, Switzerland - China needs to be involved in talks to end the war with Russia, Ukraine’s top representative said after a high-level diplomatic meeting ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland.

Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Jan 14 that it was important for Russian ally China to be at the table when Kyiv convenes further meetings on

its peace formula.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will lead a delegation to Davos this week. Asked if President Volodymyr Zelensky would meet Mr Li, Mr Yermak told a news briefing “let’s see”, adding that he had not seen the Ukrainian leader’s final agenda.

Mr Zelensky was due to arrive in Bern, Switzerland, on Jan 15 to meet Swiss Confederation President Viola Amherd. He is also likely to meet JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon at Davos this week, Bloomberg News reported.

Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, who attended Jan 14’s discussions, told an earlier news conference: “We must do everything to end this war.”

“China plays a significant role. We must find ways to work with China on this,” he said, adding that both Russia and Ukraine were not willing to make concessions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

Mr Cassis said countries that had a dialogue with Russia, such as Brazil, India and South Africa, were involved in the Davos discussions and could play an important role.

A European Union official said Ukraine’s Western partners had expressed unequivocal support for Kyiv and its peace plans, with a call on the Global South nations to make clear to Russia the importance of respecting the United Nations charter and its core principles in the interest of global security.

Global South

The role of the Global South in Ukraine’s peace formula talks has come into focus in the lead-up to Davos. Many of the non-aligned countries from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that have largely stayed on the sidelines over Ukraine will be represented at the Swiss mountain resort.

The EU official said the Global South partners had generally expressed empathy with the fate of Ukrainians. Some highlighted the need for engaging with Russia’s concerns.

Mr Yermak said nobody had asked him about any compromise over territory during the Jan 14 meeting.

Mr Zelensky was not at the meeting, but Mr Cassis said he would appear at the summit, and there would be opportunities for diplomats to speak with him.

The Ukrainian President was represented by Mr Yermak, who said there were participants from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and six South American countries. “Countries from the Global South are increasingly involved in our work,” Mr Yermak said earlier on his Telegram account.

Ukraine, with strong backing from its allies, has consistently said it will not give up until it has reclaimed every piece of territory that Russia has taken.

It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu told Reuters that the African oil producer stood by Mr Zelensky’s side, saying it would deal with the consequences of rising food prices.

The talks were also attended by Ms Penny Pritzker, United States Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, as well as Mr James O’Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

As concerns grow about ongoing US support for the war in Ukraine during an election year, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are both expected to address the WEF, which officially started on the evening of Jan 15.

Mr Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine’s state borders with Russia.

Russia, which controls a little under a fifth of Ukrainian territory, has dismissed Mr Zelensky’s “peace formula” as absurd as it aims to find peace without Moscow’s participation. REUTERS