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Chinese Peacekeeping Soldiers In Ukraine? Can Beijing Help Resolve Ukraine War & Provide Security Guarantees?

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.”




Edited Image of President Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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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