China Ukraine stance

Whatever the U.S. intentions, the outcome of the Russia-U.S. dialogue would be beneficial for China.

Decision-makers in Beijing expect that Trump’s brutal pressure will bring Europe closer to China and, on the face of it, this would make sense. But a full-fledged détente between the EU and China is unlikely. 

The two leaders discussed at length the recent developments in Russia-U.S. relations, a sign that such talks will not impact China and Russia’s close partnership.

The U.S. and China are both effectively pushing Ukraine back into Russia’s sphere of influence – but Beijing’s approach suddenly looks more reasonable in comparison.

While China-Russia relations have certainly gotten closer since the 1990s, recent indicators may point to strains.

Beijing hopes to benefit from tensions created by the Trump administration, but China will have to change its own approach to capitalize. 

Insights from Vita Golod.

A carefully managed continuation of the war against Ukraine, by contrast, benefits China in asserting its global leadership.

For both India and China, positioning themselves as successful peacemakers is not just about resolving the Ukraine crisis; it’s also about enhancing their global credibility as emergent powers. 

Even though it is in China’s interest to lead a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the benefit of waiting for the strategically optimal time outweighs the potential risks.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is making his first visit to China since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

China "is not neutral, but has effectively sided with Russia in this war," U.S. Ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns said this week.