After a high-stakes call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Washington and Moscow initiated their first direct dialogue aimed at ending the war in Ukraine—remarkably, without any Ukrainian representation.
Unsurprisingly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed dissatisfaction with being left out of the conversation. While the US Secretary of State and Russian foreign minister met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Zelenskyy was in Türkiye, underscoring Kyiv’s sidelined position in these critical talks.
Yet, despite this oversight, Zelenskyy remains open to the idea of broadening the peace process—especially if influential players like China are willing to shoulder significant responsibilities.
China’s Emerging Role
Zelenskyy did not dismiss the possibility of China joining peace negotiations with Russia. “Regarding China. Look, we have always said we welcome serious players at the table,” Zelenskyy told Interfax-Ukraine.
He stressed that any potential mediator must commit to offering security guarantees for Ukraine, actively working to curb Putin’s aggression, and investing in the country’s reconstruction.
Notably, Zelenskyy acknowledged a shift in China’s stance, citing a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, attended by Andrii Yermak, Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office. He hinted that Beijing might be exerting pressure on Putin for the first time.
“It is critical that we engage with Chinese authorities to push Putin toward ending the war,” he emphasized. “I believe we are now witnessing China’s interest in this matter for the first time.”
Even Donald Trump has weighed in, pointing to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a potential catalyst for peace. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump remarked last month, “Hopefully, China can help us stop the war, especially with the Russia-Ukraine situation. They have a great deal of power over that situation, and we’re eager to work with them.”
The Chinese Perspective
While Trump’s outreach to Russia’s ally has ruffled feathers among European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, it has found a receptive audience in Beijing.
Zhou Bo, a former Chinese military officer turned expert, told Deutsche Welle News (German public broadcaster) that “Donald Trump asked China to help make peace.”
According to Zhou, Ukraine will not feel at ease without collective security guarantees—what if Russia attacks again at any time? He outlined three potential roles for China in resolving the conflict…
(1) Collective Security Guarantee: China can join forces with other major powers to offer a security umbrella not only for Ukraine but potentially also for Russia.
(2) Peacekeeping Troops: Zhou argues that if peacekeeping operations are on the table, China and India are the most viable options for deploying troops.
He believes the presence of European forces is unrealistic, as Russia would perceive it as “just another form of NATO’s presence” in the region.
(3) Post-War Reconstruction: China can spearhead reconstruction efforts post-conflict, delivering results more swiftly, efficiently, and cost-effectively with unmatched prowess in infrastructure development.
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China’s Evolving Stance On The Russia-Ukraine War
China’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been one of calculated ambiguity. While it has provided Russia with dual-use components—such as semiconductor chips, navigation systems, and jet parts—that feed into its military-industrial complex, Beijing has carefully refrained from taking a hardline stance.
In the spring of 2024, the Chinese Foreign Ministry referred to the conflict as the “Ukraine crisis,” emphasizing that “there should be no winners or losers.”
The diplomatic landscape has continued to shift.
January 17, 2025: Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, hinting at Beijing’s potential role in global peacemaking.
21 January: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping engaged in a video call, reinforcing their alliance amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
23 January: Donald Trump confirmed plans to meet Putin to negotiate an end to the war.
24 January: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning announced China’s willingness to engage in dialogue with other nations to facilitate peace talks and resolve the “conflict.”
America’s Strategic Play: Sidestepping Europe
Meanwhile, the United States has been orchestrating its own strategy—one that noticeably sidelines Europe from the high-level discussions on ending the war.
U.S. lead Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg revealed that while Washington reached out to European capitals for their views on providing “security guarantees” for Kyiv, they were not included in the direct negotiations.
Trump stunned European allies by calling Putin without consulting them or Kyiv, abruptly announcing the launch of Ukraine peace talks. Meanwhile, his administration has made it clear to European allies in NATO to take primary responsibility for the region, stating that the US has other priorities, such as border security and “countering China.”
Meanwhile, a recent development highlighted Ukraine’s determination to maintain control over its resources.
Amidst these geopolitical maneuvers, Zelenskyy recently rejected a controversial U.S. proposal that would have required Ukraine to hand over 50% of its rare mineral reserves in exchange for future aid—without offering any “security guarantees”.
The proposal, reportedly driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in securing access to Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth, was swiftly rejected by Zelensky.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv, he disclosed that he had instead pushed for a memorandum of understanding that ensured reciprocal benefits rather than a one-sided transaction.
By dismissing the offer, Zelensky underscored Ukraine’s unwillingness to trade its strategic resources for uncertain promises—signaling a firm stance against deals that compromise the country’s long-term interests.
Asia’s Bold Leap
As the Ukraine war grinds on, the potential roles of China—and India—in brokering peace and rebuilding a war-torn nation are becoming increasingly significant. China and India’s involvement could reshape the traditional Western-led approach to conflict resolution and introduce new dynamics to international peacekeeping efforts.
This evolving situation suggests a potential shift in global diplomatic power structures, with Asian powers taking on more prominent roles in European security matters.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. She has over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
