Vatican and China talk Ukraine peace

Moscow previously said that peace talks were impossible as long as Kiev continues its assault on Kursk Region of Russia

Two of the most vocal supporters of a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, The Vatican and China, held talks this week. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi spoke by phone with Beijing’s special representative for Eurasian affairs Li Hui on Wednesday, according to the Holy See´s official newspaper. The conversation comes as Kiev’s forces continue their assault against civilians in Russia’s Kursk Region.

Cardinal Zuppi, who led a Ukraine peace mission last year, and the senior Chinese diplomat stressed the need to “foster dialogue” between the parties to the conflict, and called for “adequate international guarantees for a just and lasting peace,” Vatican News wrote on Thursday.

In June and July 2023, the pontiff’s lead negotiator traveled to Kiev, Moscow, and Washington, and in September he visited Beijing.

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“Li Hui appreciates the Vatican’s constant efforts to mediate the Ukraine crisis and provide humanitarian assistance,” South China Morning Post quoted the Chinese foreign ministry as saying. The statement also noted that “the current situation shows the significance” of a six-point plan, put forward by China and Brazil, which includes a call for a ceasefire and a negotiated end to the settlement.

Pope Francis’ efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine have been gaining pace in recent months. The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, toured Ukraine last month and met with the country’s leadership. Following the visit, Parolin called for Russia to be included in peace negotiations and pointed out that Kiev’s ‘peace formula’ promoted by Vladimir Zelensky was “not enough.”

The ‘peace formula’ is a list of Zelensky’s demands first set out in November 2022. They include, among other things, Russia’s withdrawal from all territories Ukraine claims as its own. Moscow has rejected Kiev’s formula as being out of touch with reality. The plan was the focus of an international peace conference in Switzerland in June, which Russia was not invited to.

China has repeatedly said that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev must be resolved at the negotiation table. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba made a three-day visit to China in July. Following talks, Beijing said Kiev was ready to engage in dialogue and negotiations with Moscow.

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The Russian leadership previously cast doubt on the sincerity of Ukraine’s statements regarding peace talks. Last week Kiev launched an attack on Russia’s Kursk Region, the largest cross-border assault since the outbreak of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said of Kiev’s engagement that any peace talks with those who “conduct indiscriminate strikes on civilians” and civilian infrastructure were impossible.