Zakharova: Russia is open to achieving the goals of the special operation through diplomacy

Russia is open to achieving the goals of the special operation in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means, but the main obstacle to a peaceful settlement is the Ukrainian side’s legally enshrined refusal to negotiate with the head of the Russian state, Vladimir Putin, commented Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry “China’s Positions on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis”.

Zakharova noted that the Russian side highly appreciates China’s desire to contribute to the settlement of the conflict and shares the “considerations of Beijing”, as it is committed to the principles of the UN Charter, the norms of international law regarding the indivisibility of security, “according to which the security of one country should not be strengthened to the detriment of the security of another, which also applies to the security of certain groups of countries.” Just like the PRC Foreign Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry considers illegitimate restrictive measures that are “a crude instrument of unfair competition and economic warfare.”

According to Zakharova, Russia was guided by these considerations when, at the end of 2021, it proposed the conclusion of a security guarantee agreement with the United States and an agreement on security measures with NATO, which were rejected by Western countries.

“As for the Ukrainian crisis, Russia is open to achieving the goals of the NWO through political and diplomatic means. This implies the cessation of supplies of Western weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine, the end of hostilities, the return of Ukraine to a neutral non-bloc status, the recognition of new territorial realities that have developed as a result of the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as the elimination of all threats emanating from its territory,” the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.

Also, according to her, the Russian-speaking population and national minorities should be guaranteed all the rights, including “the right to speak and study in their native language.” As another condition for a peaceful settlement, Zakharova called the removal of all restrictive measures.

“The main obstacle to a peaceful settlement today is the “impossibility” of negotiations with President of Russia V.V. Putin, legislatively fixed by Decree of V. Zelensky on September 30, 2022, as well as the initiatives of the Ukrainian leader, indicating the complete isolation of official Kiev from modern realities, including the demand for the withdrawal of Russian troops from our new territories – Donbass, Crimea, Zaporozhye and Kherson region, ”summed up the representative of the Russian foreign ministry.

On the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published on its website a document reflecting the position of the PRC on the settlement of the conflict. It consists of 12 points, which will include the rejection of the Cold War mentality, the cessation of hostilities and the promotion of a dialogue between Moscow and Kiev, the start of negotiations, the implementation of agreements, the assistance of the international community for the restoration of Ukraine, etc.

After the publication of Beijing’s proposals to resolve the conflict, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would study the proposed document. According to the politician, it is necessary to look at the proposals, taking into account the friendship between Russia and China. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg put it tougher, saying that “there is not much trust in China” because Beijing has not condemned the Russian special operation in Ukraine.

Information about China’s peace plan for Ukraine appeared in the media earlier this week. As Bloomberg noted, Beijing originally allegedly planned to also include a call to complete the supply of weapons to Ukraine, but the document published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry does not contain such a clause.