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| Putin: China plan could end war, but Ukraine and West not ready for peace | Putin: China plan could end war, but Ukraine and West not ready for peace |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds | Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds |
| Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds | Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds |
| China's peace plan for Ukraine could be used as a basis to end the war, Vladimir Putin has said. | China's peace plan for Ukraine could be used as a basis to end the war, Vladimir Putin has said. |
| But Mr Putin said the plan could be put forward only when they are ready "in the West and Kyiv". | But Mr Putin said the plan could be put forward only when they are ready "in the West and Kyiv". |
| The Russian leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Moscow to discuss the conflict, and relations between the two countries. | The Russian leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Moscow to discuss the conflict, and relations between the two countries. |
| China's plan, published last month, does not explicitly call for Russia to leave Ukraine. | China's plan, published last month, does not explicitly call for Russia to leave Ukraine. |
| Listing 12 points, it calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty, without specific proposals. | Listing 12 points, it calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty, without specific proposals. |
| But Ukraine has insisted on Russia withdrawing from its territory as a condition for any talks - and there is no sign that Russia is ready to do that. | But Ukraine has insisted on Russia withdrawing from its territory as a condition for any talks - and there is no sign that Russia is ready to do that. |
| The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that calling for a ceasefire before Russia withdrew "would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest". | The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that calling for a ceasefire before Russia withdrew "would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest". |
| In a joint news conference after talks with Mr Xi ended, Mr Putin said: "Many provisions of the Chinese peace plan can be taken as the basis for settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it." | In a joint news conference after talks with Mr Xi ended, Mr Putin said: "Many provisions of the Chinese peace plan can be taken as the basis for settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it." |
| But Russia had yet to see such "readiness" from the other side, he added. | But Russia had yet to see such "readiness" from the other side, he added. |
| Standing alongside the Russian leader, Mr Xi said his government was in favour of peace and dialogue and that China was on the "right side of history". | Standing alongside the Russian leader, Mr Xi said his government was in favour of peace and dialogue and that China was on the "right side of history". |
| He again claimed that China had an "impartial position" on the conflict in Ukraine, seeking to cast Beijing as the potential peace-maker. | He again claimed that China had an "impartial position" on the conflict in Ukraine, seeking to cast Beijing as the potential peace-maker. |
| The pair also discussed growing trade, energy and political ties between the two nations. | The pair also discussed growing trade, energy and political ties between the two nations. |
| "China is the leading foreign trade partner of Russia," President Putin said, pledging to keep up and surpass the "high level" of trade achieved last year. | "China is the leading foreign trade partner of Russia," President Putin said, pledging to keep up and surpass the "high level" of trade achieved last year. |
| China 'not impartial in any way', White House says | |
| China 'not impartial in any way', White House says | |
| Earlier, Mr Xi called China and Russia "great neighbouring powers and comprehensive strategic partners". | |
| According to Russian state media, the two leaders also: | According to Russian state media, the two leaders also: |
| Signed two joint documents - one detailing plans for economic co-operation and one on plans to deepen the Russia-China partnership | Signed two joint documents - one detailing plans for economic co-operation and one on plans to deepen the Russia-China partnership |
| Reached an agreement on a planned pipeline in Siberia to deliver Russian gas to China via Mongolia | Reached an agreement on a planned pipeline in Siberia to deliver Russian gas to China via Mongolia |
| Agreed that nuclear war "must never be unleashed" | Agreed that nuclear war "must never be unleashed" |
| Discussed their concern at the new Aukus pact - a defence agreement between Australia, the UK and US | Discussed their concern at the new Aukus pact - a defence agreement between Australia, the UK and US |
| Expressed concern over Nato's growing presence in Asia on "military and security issues" | Expressed concern over Nato's growing presence in Asia on "military and security issues" |
| There are growing concerns in the West that China might provide military support for Russia. | There are growing concerns in the West that China might provide military support for Russia. |
| Speaking in Brussels, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said his alliance had not "seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia". | |
| But he added there were "signs" that Russia had requested weapons, and that the request was being considered in Beijing. | |
| A joint statement released by China and Russia after the meeting between the two leaders said the close partnership between the two countries did not constitute a "military-political alliance". | A joint statement released by China and Russia after the meeting between the two leaders said the close partnership between the two countries did not constitute a "military-political alliance". |
| Relations "do not constitute a bloc, do not have a confrontational nature and are not directed against third countries", they added. | Relations "do not constitute a bloc, do not have a confrontational nature and are not directed against third countries", they added. |
| Mr Putin also used the press conference to accuse the West of deploying weapons with a "nuclear component" and said Russia would be "forced to react" if the UK sent shells made with depleted uranium to Ukraine. . | Mr Putin also used the press conference to accuse the West of deploying weapons with a "nuclear component" and said Russia would be "forced to react" if the UK sent shells made with depleted uranium to Ukraine. . |
| The UK's Ministry of Defence said depleted uranium was a "standard component" which had "nothing to do with nuclear weapons". | The UK's Ministry of Defence said depleted uranium was a "standard component" which had "nothing to do with nuclear weapons". |
| Mr Xi was given a fanfare welcome when he arrived at the Kremlin for a second day of talks on Tuesday. | Mr Xi was given a fanfare welcome when he arrived at the Kremlin for a second day of talks on Tuesday. |
| He said he was "very happy" to be in Moscow and described talks with President Putin as "frank, open and friendly". | He said he was "very happy" to be in Moscow and described talks with President Putin as "frank, open and friendly". |
| His visit to Russia came days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin on war crimes allegations. | His visit to Russia came days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin on war crimes allegations. |
| The state visit was mirrored by Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's surprise visit to Kyiv - making him the first leader of Japan to visit a country in conflict since World War Two. | The state visit was mirrored by Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's surprise visit to Kyiv - making him the first leader of Japan to visit a country in conflict since World War Two. |
| President Zelensky said he will join the G7 summit in Japan in May via video link at the invitation of Mr Kishida. | President Zelensky said he will join the G7 summit in Japan in May via video link at the invitation of Mr Kishida. |
| He told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he had also asked China to get involved in talks but was waiting for an answer. | He told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he had also asked China to get involved in talks but was waiting for an answer. |
| "We offered China to become a partner in the implementation of the peace formula," he said. "We invite you to the dialogue; we are waiting for your answer." | "We offered China to become a partner in the implementation of the peace formula," he said. "We invite you to the dialogue; we are waiting for your answer." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| China | China |
| Russia | Russia |