Ukraine seeks China’s involvement in peace talks to end the ongoing conflict with Russia; summit to be hosted in Switzerland.

On January 26, 2024, Ukraine extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The invitation was confirmed by Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s senior adviser, Igor Zhovkva. According to Zhovkva, China’s involvement at the highest level, through President Xi’s participation, is crucial for the peace process. He emphasized that Ukraine would engage its global partners to communicate the significance of China’s role in these talks.

Switzerland has agreed to host the summit, though no specific venue or date has been finalized. The Ukrainian government believes that Chinese participation could be a decisive factor in bringing an end to the war, which has ravaged Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Although China has maintained a close relationship with Russia during the conflict, it has previously expressed interest in mediating peace efforts, underscoring the importance of respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Xi remains one of the closest international allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his views on a potential peace settlement could significantly influence the future of the conflict.

Summary of Other Developments:

A Russian military transport plane crash in Belgorod on January 24 killed all 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Russia claims the plane was shot down by Ukrainian forces, a claim Ukraine denies.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal in Russia, extending his pretrial detention until March 2024.
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson called for greater Western support for Ukraine, warning that if Russia prevails, the security of the rest of Europe would be at risk.