BEIJING, March 4. /TASS/. Beijing expects to play a better role in promoting dialogue on the Ukrainian crisis, the Global Times newspaper wrote in an article devoted to a recent meeting between Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow.
"Chinese analysts say China can play a better role in promoting dialogue and peace this time as there is rising global opposition to war, which presents a better chance for peace negotiations and mediation initiatives," the paper said. But to reach a peaceful resolution, it will take time, analysts noted.
In the past two years, China has consistently worked toward promoting peace and dialogue, engaging in discussions with Russia, Ukraine, and other involved nations to play a constructive role in coping with the crisis, the newspaper wrote.
All parties, including Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and the US, are exhausted as the conflict has been going on for two years, and there is a growing anti-war sentiment worldwide, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times, adding that "this has created a greater opportunity for peace talks and mediation efforts."
In this context, Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, also believes that China can better play a crucial role in promoting a political solution to the conflict, more than ever.
The significance of China's efforts in promoting peace talks lies in bridging the huge gap in positions between the parties involved. "Through China's mediation, consensus can be reached, including on issues such as providing humanitarian aid and preventing the escalation of conflict," Cui Heng said. Due to the high level of mutual trust between China and Russia, Beijing's mediation efforts are more likely to be successful in getting Russia to express its position without reservation, he added.
Meanwhile, Cui Heng stated that negotiations cannot be a one-time event, but rather must be a continuous process and noted the importance of differentiating between cease-fire negotiations and peace negotiations, as they serve different purposes and require different strategies.
"Peace negotiations involve territorial division and political security, which are currently not feasible for discussion," he said. "Though challenges still lie ahead, there is still hope for cease-fire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, similar to the frozen conflict on the Korean Peninsula," the expert added.
Cui Hongjian pointed out that there is still a possibility that the conflict can evolve into a larger battlefield. He warns that the continued expansion of NATO and military maneuvers in Russia's neighborhood could escalate tensions further and prolong the conflict. He emphasized that the West needs to reassess its approach to the conflict and understand the gravity of the situation.
Cui Heng said the battlefield situation will continue to be a standoff. He explains that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is still in a stalemate, with Moscow taking the initiative, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to negotiate with the US and Ukraine in his State of the Nation Address and in previous interviews with journalists. "In the coming months, neither side is suitable for large-scale actions, but at least until the US election, it is difficult to say that the situation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict will change," he said.