Media: EU will ask China to push Russia towards a “just peace” in Ukraine

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, asked China, within the framework of the UN Security Council, to push Russia towards a “just peace” in Ukraine. About it reports Reuters citing a draft of his speech.

Michelle will speak at a meeting of the Security Council on September 20 during the UN General Assembly, the agency notes. According to Reuters, the official will call for “a just peace that respects the UN Charter and its basic principles – the territorial integrity of a sovereign state.” Michel will then address China as a “responsible country” and offer to “convince Russia” to stop fighting in Ukraine, according to a draft of his speech.

It is expected that Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng will take part in the meeting as part of the Chinese delegation, Reuters writes, citing unnamed diplomats. In addition, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky may attend the meeting.

In February 2022, 11 countries in the UN Security Council, including the United States and France, condemned Russia’s special operation in Ukraine. Russia applied veto power against a draft resolution condemning the special operation. Three countries, including China and India, abstained from voting.

At the beginning of March 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine. 141 countries (out of 193) voted for it, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Eritrea voted against it. China abstained from voting.

In October 2022, the UN General Assembly, by a majority vote, also condemned referendums in the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions on joining Russia. The resolution was supported by 143 countries, 35 abstained, including China. Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Nicaragua opposed it. Unlike decisions of the organization’s Security Council, UN General Assembly resolutions are not considered binding.