Ukraine has levied allegations against Russia and China, stating that these two nations are making efforts to destabilise the upcoming “global peace summit”. The Ukrainian government is imploring the United States to permit usage of their long-range missiles that they supplied, with the aim of attacking Russian airbases.
Over 100 countries and bodies have shown their affirmation to be present at the summit in Switzerland scheduled for June 15-16, an event to which Russia is not invited. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, stated that Kyiv anticipates a universal agreement supporting their strategy to end the war and then disclose this plan to Moscow at another international meeting afterwards.
“The United States is engaging with several states, propelling them to participate in the peace summit. Unfortunately, China is acting in contrary, it is currently obstructing nations from attending the peace summit,” Zelenskiy declared at the Asia’s largest security conference, Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore.
“Regrettably, Russia, capitalising on China’s sway over the region and using its diplomats, is disrupting the peace summit. It’s a pity that China, such a large, self-reliant, mighty nation, is a pawn in Putin’s hands,” he continued. He was alluding to Vladimir Putin, the Russian autocracy’s leader who commenced a full-on incursion into Ukraine in February 2022.
The Western world holds China responsible for aiding the Kremlin in circumventing sanctions and enhancing weaponry manufacture by sanctioning extensive inflow of “dual-use” goods into Russia – these include electronic products and other items with both civilian and military applications.
Zelenskiy expressed, “Owing to China’s backing of Russia, the duration of war will be prolonged, which is detrimental to the entire world”. He added, “Accepting Ukraine’s sovereign and territorial integrity while simultaneously supporting the country that defies the principles of the UN charter and the… sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, is an act of dichotomy”.
Contrarily, Beijing positions itself as an unbiased spectator and just mediator who could potentially terminate the war. Simultaneously, it amplifies its ‘no limits’ rapport with Russia.
Defence Minister Dong Jun of China asserted at the Singapore forum that his country has never supplied arms to any side in the conflict. He stated that China has implemented stricter regulations on the export of items with dual uses and has made no actions to incite the conflict, maintaining their steadfast commitment to peace and dialogue. Beijing announced last week it would not dispatch a representative to the Switzerland summit, asserting that both Russia and Ukraine should support an international peace conference which encompasses equal participation from all parties involved.
Ukraine, over the past weekend, claims to have successfully downed 70 out of 72 attack drones and 35 out of 55 missiles launched by Moscow’s military, which resulted in more damage to the country’s power infrastructure. The White House, last week, approved Ukraine’s deployment of some American-provided weaponry to target areas near the Russian border, however, Mr Zelenskiy opined that Ukrainian forces should be given the go-ahead to launch long-range missiles directed at airfields that Russia utilizes to bombard them relentlessly, given the current situation where Ukraine lacks the capability to retaliate.