China pushes Trump-Putin ‘peace summit’, leaves Ukraine out
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo)
Chinese officials, through intermediaries, proposed that
former U.S. President Donald Trump hold a summit with Russian dictator Vladimir
Putin to “support peace efforts” after a potential ceasefire, The
Wall Street Journal reported on Feb. 13, citing sources.
The proposal was rejected by officials in the U.S. and
Europe due to concerns over Beijing’s increasingly close ties with Moscow.
According to WSJ, China’s plan specifically called for a
U.S.-Russia summit without the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy. The article notes that such a negotiation format contradicts the
West’s long-standing commitment to including Ukraine in any discussions about
its future.
The White House declined to confirm whether it had received
China’s proposal but dismissed it as “completely unviable.”
When asked about the reported offer, a spokesperson for
China’s embassy in Washington said they had no knowledge of it. “We hope all
parties will work toward de-escalation and seek a resolution,” they added.
According to WSJ sources, part of China’s proposal to
facilitate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine includes Beijing acting
as a “guarantor” by deploying peacekeeping forces to the region.
Due to the “warm personal ties” between Beijing and Moscow
at the highest level, WSJ suggests that China may offer Trump “more tactical
concessions,” such as a summit with Putin or participation in post-ceasefire
stabilization efforts.
Some senior European officials believe Beijing may actually
favor a prolonged war that drains U.S. and European military resources while
deepening Russia’s dependence on China.
However, at different points, high-ranking officials in
Berlin and Paris have also stated that China could play a key role in a
long-term peace plan due to its leverage over Moscow. As a result, Europe is
unlikely to outright reject China’s involvement in a peace agreement or its
role in enforcing such a deal.
The report also highlights growing concerns in Europe over
the prospect of a major-power deal that disregards Ukraine’s demands. A
trilateral summit involving Putin and Trump under China’s leadership would
likely exacerbate these fears, as many European officials worry Trump could
sideline European interests in favor of striking a grand bargain with Beijing.
On Feb. 12, Trump held a phone conversation with Putin to
discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to the U.S. president, they
agreed to immediately start negotiations and plan reciprocal visits. Trump also
claimed that he and Putin “want to stop millions of deaths.”
Trump later called President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss
potential pathways to peace, cooperation readiness, and preparations for a
Ukraine-U.S. agreement on security, economic, and resource collaboration.
According to Bloomberg, some European leaders believe Trump’s
conversation with Putin may indicate that the U.S. president is willing to
sacrifice Ukraine’s interests.
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