UPDATE - China doesn’t sell lethal weapons to parties in conflict: Top diplomat tells Ukrainian counterpart

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM CHINESE SIDE; CHANGES HEADER, LEDE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China “does not” sell lethal weapons to any parties involved in a conflict, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

"China adheres to the political solution of hot-spot issues, insists on promoting peace and promoting talks, does not add fuel to the fire, does not take advantage of opportunities, and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict areas or conflict parties," Wang told Dmytro as Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine enters two years next week.

The two met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, according to a Chinese readout released on Sunday.

Earlier, Kuleba wrote on X that, besides bilateral relations, he discussed with Wang the “need to restore just and lasting peace” in Ukraine amid the war between Kyiv and Moscow.

He also informed Wang about Ukraine’s “vision for the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland.”

The Swiss government is expected to host the summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but details have not yet been made public.

“We agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue,” the Ukrainian foreign minister added.

Wang and Kuleba held a similar meeting during the same Conference last year. The pair have spoken on the telephone since Moscow launched its “special military operation” on Kyiv in February 2022.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed the hope that Beijing-Kyiv relations “will develop normally and continue to benefit the two peoples, no matter how the international landscape changes.”

“China will continue to play a constructive role in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict and re-establishing peace as soon as possible,” Wang stressed.

The meeting comes amid reports that Beijing has asked Kyiv to remove Chinese firms from its “sponsors of war” list.

The Chinese foreign minister Saturday defended Beijing’s ties with Moscow while addressing the Conference.

“No matter how the world changes, China is a responsible major country that will keep its major principles and policies consistent and stable,” said Wang. “In a turbulent world. China will be a force for stability.”

On Ukraine, he stressed that China had been “working relentlessly to promote peace and peace talks.”

Wang, however, added there were “not ripe conditions in place for parties to go back to the negotiating table.”

China has not condemned Russia’s “special military operation” but has insisted on respecting the territorial integrity of sovereign nations.

China’s President Xi Jinping has visited Moscow, held telephone calls, and exchanged views with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he spoke just once with Zelenskyy.

Beijing’s special envoy on Eurasia Li Hui has visited Kyiv and Moscow and held talks with officials following Russia’s move against Ukraine.