China has expressed its support for a new “consensus” between the U.S. and Russia regarding the war in Ukraine, according to Foreign Minister Wang Yi.1 Wang made these remarks at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where he met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.2
A statement released by China’s foreign ministry quoted Wang as saying, “China supports all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent consensus reached by the United States and Russia,” and that China is ready to play a “constructive role” in future peace talks.3 He also stated that Beijing “hopes that the parties concerned can find a sustainable and lasting solution that takes into account each other’s concerns.”4
These comments follow a meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential resolutions to the conflict, which occurred without the involvement of Ukrainian representatives.5 Concerns have arisen that this could lead to a peace agreement that favors Russia.
The former U.S. President has recently made statements mirroring Russian narratives, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and assigning blame to Kyiv for the full-scale invasion.6
Throughout the conflict, China has maintained a close relationship with Russia, leading to accusations from Western officials that Beijing has supplied materials and technology to support Russia’s military efforts.7 China has consistently refuted these accusations, asserting its neutrality in the war.
Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated their commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations, building upon a prior agreement that declared “no limits” to their cooperation.
