BEIJING: China has denied allegations by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that it was attempting to prevent other nations from attending a planned peace summit on the conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky stated that at a security forum in Singapore on Sunday that China was “working hard today to stop nations from coming to the peace summit” due to be hosted by Switzerland later in June.
Kyiv expresses hope that the summit will help it win broad global support for its vision of the terms required to end Moscow’s invasion.
Beijing criticized the summit last week, saying it would be “difficult” for it to attend if Moscow did not attend it. China’s foreign ministry said that “China’s stance is open and transparent, and there is completely no instance of us pressing other nations”.
“On peace talks, Beijing’s stance is fair and just. It does not target any third state, and of course is not aimed at Switzerland’s hosting of this conference for peace,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
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President Zelensky said Sunday that over 100 countries and organizations had signed up to the peace conference on Ukraine so far. Beijing insists it is a neutral party in the war and is striving to bring an end to hostilities through talks.
But China has been criticized by Western countries for cultivating strong relations with Russia and giving Russian President Vladimir Putin diplomatic and political cover over the matter, AFP reported.
