By Peter Omopo
China has expressed support for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, following claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that peace talks between the two nations would commence immediately.
“China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, reaffirming Beijing’s long-standing position on the war.
The remarks came after Trump announced he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin for two hours on Monday and that both sides had agreed to begin peace negotiations. The development aligns with Trump’s repeated campaign promise to end the conflict within 24 hours if re-elected.
While Trump portrayed the call as a diplomatic breakthrough, President Putin adopted a more measured stance, stating that Moscow is open to working with Kyiv on a peace memorandum. However, he emphasized that any resolution would require compromises from both parties.
The war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has continued with little sign of a negotiated settlement, despite repeated international calls for dialogue.
