Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The Chinese envoy urged the parties to pay “special attention to vulnerable groups.”
Today, Tuesday, delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US will meet for a new round of trilateral talks to try and find a diplomatic solution to the fighting in Ukraine.
And even though it is not represented at the gathering, China has now weighed in on the fighting in Eastern Europe.
According to UNITED24 Media, China urged the United Nations Security Council to back a legally binding treaty that halts the invasion during a meeting the day before the talks in Abu Dhabi were set to begin.
Chinese envoy Sun Lei told the council that diplomats now face a critical window to settle the war through direct dialogue.
Sun laid out three main priorities for any future negotiations. He welcomed recent prisoner swaps and aid missions before pleading with both capitals to protect innocent lives.
Sun stated, “We call on the parties to put human lives first, stay calm and restrained, and effectively protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, paying special attention to vulnerable groups, including women and children.”
Europe demands a seat
Beyond immediate safety, Sun argued that lasting peace requires tackling root causes, reminding diplomats that “there are no winners in conflicts and wars.”
China insists its own emissaries are already busy.
Sun stated, “Guided by the ‘four points’ proposed by President Xi Jinping, we continue to promote peace talks and a political settlement. We maintain close contact with all parties involved, including Russia and Ukraine, and actively engage in ‘shuttle diplomacy.’”
Ukraine, however, sees the road ahead differently. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently addressed the upcoming Abu Dhabi talks involving Ukrainian, Russian, and American envoys, noting that Washington cannot carry the load alone.
Zelenskyy stressed that European leaders must sit at the table when post-war security, reconstruction cash, and NATO issues come up. Without Europe, any long-term pact simply will not hold.
Xi, Putin, Trump summit on the horizon
While all eyes are on the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi this week, another trilateral summit is in the making: One between the leaders of the US, Russia and China.
The APEC summit is set for Nov. 18-19, and the three countries are reportedly trying to make trilateral talks between the three leaders happen.
On Nov. 8, Donald Trump told reporters that he thinks he will meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the summit, discussing an end to the Iran war.
