File image.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized China on September 17 for failing to use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict, saying Beijing could push Moscow toward negotiations but had not done so.
“It’s a pity that China is not on our side in this war, politically,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK. “It’s not even about weapons. It’s about political will.”
Zelenskyy said he had never seen China pressure Russia to stop the fighting, although he acknowledged that such discussions could have taken place privately. He claimed that Beijing had considerable influence over Moscow because of Russia’s dependence on Chinese trade and technology amid Western sanctions.
“Of course, China can find a way to push Putin towards negotiations. I’m sure,” Zelenskyy said. “But they didn’t do it. And if you can and don’t, is it support or not?”
He noted that he had not seen Chinese missiles used in Ukraine but claimed that Russian military equipment and technology came from China.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy said China was not neutral and was “a little bit more” on Russia’s side because it was more open and helpful toward Moscow than Kyiv.
The remarks brings back to mind Zelenskyy’s own comments about Taiwan four years earlier, when he argued that the international community should support countries facing pressure from more powerful neighbors.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11, 2022, Zelenskyy responded to a question about tensions between China and Taiwan by calling for international action before a conflict began.
“We need a diplomatic resolution to support countries that are in need of help,” Zelenskyy said. “We must not leave them behind at the mercy of another country, which is more powerful in financial terms, in territorial terms and in terms of equipment.”
The comments were made in the context of concerns about a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan and were interpreted at the time as an appeal for international support for the island.
That position stands in uncomfortable contrast with Zelenskyy’s latest complaint that China should take Ukraine’s side against Russia.
Zelenskyy’s criticism of Beijing became increasingly frequent after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. On June 2, 2024, Zelenskyy accused China of helping Russia “disrupt” a Ukrainian peace summit by pressuring other countries not to attend. China rejected the allegation and said its position was aimed at promoting peace negotiations.
The irony of asking China for support after years of criticism of Beijing and adopting public positions that have conflicted with key Chinese interests is clearly lost on the Ukrainian president.
He has spoken in support of Taiwan when discussing possible Chinese military action, has accused Beijing of helping Russia and has sought to rally other countries against what he described as Chinese pressure. He is now asking that same Chinese government to use its political and economic influence against Russia and in support of Ukraine.
Beijing, for its part, has repeatedly rejected Zelenskyy’s accusations and maintained that it is not a party to the conflict in any way.
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any non white (specially africans and asians) would be beaten to death by the white supremacists of the following organizations: ss aidar, ss kraken, wolfsangel (aka azov), waffen ss nachtigall (who were in kursk killing civilians), leibstandarte adolf hitler (zelenski security team), right sektor ukr – all of them hate africans and asians, and all of them are leading the ukrainian government and military. all of them funded by the us and eu tax payers
”he’s an angry little elf”
during the chenise yaer of the goat/ram, the isleand of tawain/formosa will be reunited to chaina. 😂
that’s like saying the us should push israel to stop existing. the terrorists in dc will never abandon genocide. zelensky is one of those pos too.