China's pivotal role in potential peace talks for Ukraine conflict
One country that could get involved in ending the conflict in Ukraine is China. "If China wanted to, they could do a lot in this matter. But do they want to? We need to look at China's strategic interests here," says General Stanisław Koziej, former head of the National Security Bureau.
China has supported Russia since the beginning of the war. Their assistance includes, among other things, the production of drone engines, technology transfer for anti-ship missiles, microelectronics, and nitrocellulose used in producing fuel for weapons. Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping usually call each other friends publicly.
In recent weeks, there has been much talk about peace negotiations that may end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the expert, it might be beneficial for Beijing that Russia is entangled in a war because it weakens its position. As a consequence, Putin becomes dependent on Asian power. At the same time, the Chinese will not allow Russia to collapse because that would increase US influence.
As he emphasizes, Russia basically does not have any other stronger support points on the international stage today.
If China withdrew its support for Russia, threatening it with some restrictions, for example, in economic exchange, it would be significant because Russia is currently at China's beck and call. If China wanted to, they could do a lot in this matter. But do they want to? We need to look at China's strategic interests here, says General Stanisław Koziej, former head of the National Security Bureau.
Beijing is very skillfully playing the topic of the war and support for Russia, for which it pays dearly.
China has time, they are in a better, good situation, and all their decisions depend on how much they can benefit from it, adds Koziej.
In recent weeks, one has indeed noticed trends in Russia that suggest some negotiations. This would suggest that the Russian elites are slowly strengthening their belief that this war does not serve them well, harms them, and is a significant burden. Perhaps Russia is starting to look for pretexts, formulas, to end this war—more than recently, concludes Stanisław Koziej.
