US rejects Putin's proposal, China calls for stopping adding fuel to the fire

Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the conflict has been rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, Reuters news agency quoted three sources familiar with the matter as saying on February 13.

According to Reuters, this means the world is witnessing the Russia-Ukraine conflict stretching into its third year and how far the gap between the world's two largest nuclear powers remains.

A US source denied there had been any formal contact with the Russian side, and said Washington would not engage in talks that did not include Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian sources said, Mr. Putin sent signals to Washington in 2023 publicly and privately through intermediaries, including through Moscow’s Arab partners in the Middle East and elsewhere, that he was ready to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Mr Putin is proposing to freeze the conflict at its current level and is unwilling to cede any Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, but this is seen by some in the Kremlin as the best path to some kind of peace.

Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions in the direction of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, November 2023. Photo: NY Times

“Contacts with the Americans have not yielded any results,” a senior Russian source with knowledge of the discussions in late 2023 and early 2024 told Reuters.

A second Russian source with knowledge of the contacts told Reuters that the Americans had told Moscow, through intermediaries, that they would not discuss the possibility of a ceasefire without Ukraine's participation, and so the contacts ended in failure.

“Everything fell apart with the Americans. They didn’t want to put pressure on Ukraine,” said a third source familiar with the discussions.

The information was released while there were still calls to stop adding fuel to the fire in Ukraine to "create conditions for effective diplomatic efforts".

Specifically, at the United Nations (UN), China has sided with Russia on the Ukraine issue and asked the US to stop sending weapons to the front lines of the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II.

China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, said the US should stop sending weapons to Ukraine to facilitate effective diplomatic efforts.

“Some countries should immediately stop adding fuel to the fire and stop undermining the diplomatic efforts of the international community,” the Chinese ambassador said, specifically naming the US during a UN Security Council (UNSC) session on Ukraine on February 12 in New York.

Mr. Truong also called for the implementation of the Minsk Agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine in 2014. “Unfortunately, most of the provisions of the agreement have not been implemented to date, and a large-scale conflict broke out afterwards and has been postponed until today. This is regrettable and deserves serious reflection by all parties,” he said.

“The security of one country cannot harm the security of other countries, and regional security cannot be ensured by strengthening or even expanding military groups. The security interests of all countries are equal,” the Chinese diplomat continued.

Ambassador Zhang continued to target NATO, calling on the alliance to “stop making threats.”

Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations (UN). Photo: Global Times

“NATO must adhere to dialogue and consultation in resolving disputes and follow the general direction of political settlement, instead of unilateral pressure, smearing and sanctions…”, Mr. Truong said.

On February 13, the US Senate passed a $95.3 billion bill, which includes an additional $60.06 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, the bill is unlikely to pass the US House of Representatives, where the Republican Party holds the majority, to be signed into law soon.

Experts argue that US aid to Ukraine is crucial to Kiev's efforts to push back the Russian military.

“Without Western military aid, Ukraine is unlikely to successfully resume large-scale offensive operations to retake Russian-controlled territories by 2025. That requires a different long-term strategy for Ukraine and its allies and partners,” Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said on February 7 .

Minh Duc (According to Reuters, Newsweek)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/my-bac-de-xuat-cua-ong-putin-trung-quoc-keu-goi-ngung-do-dau-vao-lua-a649727.html