Ukraine wants China to join the summit scheduled for June in Switzerland because Beijing has influence on Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with AFP.
The head of state called on China and developing countries to participate in the peace summit next month hosted by neutral Switzerland. Russia was not invited to the inaugural global peace summit.
According to the president, China should join the negotiations because it is one of the countries that has influence over Russia.
"... they have influence on Russia, and the more such countries we have on our side… the more Russia will have to move and [more countries] to reckon with," Zelenskyy said.
China's stance on the war in Ukraine
It is worth noting that China is one of the countries taking a neutral position on Russia's war against Ukraine. Beijing claims to support Ukraine's territorial integrity but has refrained from condemning Moscow's actions.
Chinese companies continue trade relations with Russia and strengthen them. Although Beijing refrains from providing Moscow with weapons for the war.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin recently visited China and met with leader Xi Jinping. During Putin's visit, the Chinese leader stated that Beijing supports a political resolution to Russia's war against Ukraine.
