By 
Stella Liantsi
Diplomacy, by Mohamed Hassan, via Pixabay, 2022, edited in Canvas
China has expressed support for U.S.-led peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing its commitment to a diplomatic resolution. As China strengthens its strategic partnership with Russia, its role in global diplomacy continues to evolve.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for U.S. President Donal Trump’s recent efforts to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. This position was expressed during the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, an international forum of both developing and developed countries that seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues. The Foreign Minister’s Meeting was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Chinese Foreign Minister expressed China’s commitment to facilitating a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. At the G20 summit, Wang Yi stated that he was in favour of all the efforts for peace, including the recent consensus reached between the United States and Russia. He further affirmed China’s willingness “to continue playing a constructive role in the political resolution of the crisis”.
Recently US and Russian officials held talks that excluded Ukraine, a move that sparked international debate. The U.S. President criticized President Zelenskyy characterizing him as a “dictator” and blaming Kyiv for Moscow’s full-scale invasion prompting statements of support for the Ukrainian President from G20 members including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The Trump administration agreed to hold that it has decided to continue negotiations with Russia to settle the almost three-year-long conflict.
China and Russia have strengthened their bilateral ties through military and economic cooperation throughout the ongoing Ukraine conflict. China has emerged as one of Russia’s most important economic partners particularly since Moscow has been isolated by Western sanctions. 40 percent of Russia’s imports come from China, and commerce between the two countries hit a record of $240 billion in 2023. This economic support has strategically positioned China to secure stability along its northern border while countering Western influence in Central Asia. Additionally, military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow has expanded, with joint exercises and deepening defence ties.
Beyond military and economic collaboration, China and Russia have aligned their foreign policies. Recently, senior diplomats from both countries have reaffirmed the “unshakable foundation” of their bilateral friendship and the high degree of mutual trust. They also committed to working to further the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination despite the evolving international landscape.
Sources and Further Readings:
Bogusz, M., & Rodkiewicz, W. (2025, January 20). Three years of war in Ukraine: the Chinese-Russian alliance passes the test. Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich. Retrieved 2nd of February 2025, https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2025-01-20/three-years-war-ukraine-chinese-russian-alliance-passes-test
Cash, J., & Chen, L. (2025, 02 21). China backs Trump’s Ukraine peace bid at G20 as US Allies rally behind Zelenskiy. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-backs-recent-consensus-reached-by-us-russia-ukraine-war-minister-says-2025-02-20/
Jia, Z. (2025, 02 22). Chinese, Russian FMs pledge to advance ties. ChinaDaily.com.cn. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202502/22/WS67b9143da310c240449d6a33.html
TRTWorld and agencies. (2025, 02 20). China supports Trump’s Ukraine peace initiative at G20. TRTWORLD. https://www.trtworld.com/asia/china-supports-trumps-ukraine-peace-initiative-at-g20-18267282
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