China’s peace plan fails to call Russia aggressor: EU official

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – China’s position paper on ending the war in Ukraine fails to call Russia an aggressor and misinterprets the concept of legitimate security interests, an EU official said on Friday.

Speaking at the European Commission’s daily news briefing in Brussels, Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for foreign affairs, confirmed that the EU has “taken careful note” of the 12-point peace plan issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

She called the document a “political initiative” that “emphasizes certain principles of the UN Charter, but it is selective and insufficient” in explaining that it is Russia’s war against its neighbor.

In the document dubbed China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, Beijing urged for ceasing hostilities and resuming peace talks, and ending Western sanctions on Moscow.

“China's position builds on the misplaced focus of the so-called legitimate security interests and concerns,” seeking justification for “Russia’s illegal invasion” and “blurring the roles of the aggressor and the aggressed,” Massrali said.

The war could end immediately if Russia withdrew from Ukraine's internationally recognized territory, and the EU calls on China to pressure Russia to do so, she added.

“The EU is ready to support any genuine and meaningful negotiating and mediation effort to bring an end to Russia's war of aggression,” Massrali said.

At a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia earlier on Friday, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said China “has taken side” by signing for an “unlimited friendship” [with Russia] right before Moscow launched its war last year.