Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd said China would not act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine for the time being as Beijing’s priority remains maintaining a stable alliance with Russia.
“if [Chinese President] “Xi Jinping looks at the world, he looks at Russia, he looks at a neighbor with whom he has had a rocky relationship since the Sino-Soviet split in 1959, and he sees a huge common border,” the former Australian prime minister told Politico. Exclusive interview Thursday night in Davos, Switzerland.
“Thus, anyone who thinks Xi Jinping is willing to trade it to play a ‘happy family’ in Ukraine is wrong.”
This may change in the future, as the appointment of China’s special envoy to Ukraine suggests, but for now Beijing’s “core business” is maintaining “friendly, supportive and beneficial relations” with Moscow. That’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, Rudd said.
“Anyone who thinks they’re going to get a negotiated outcome through the Chinese government in the near future is out of their minds,” he joked.
Kiev has long hinted that it expects China to act as a mediator with Moscow, but Xi has shown no signs of wanting to facilitate an end to President Vladimir Putin’s all-out war against Russia’s neighbor. do not have.
Despite nearly two years of conflict, relations between China and Russia have remained unshaken, with Beijing continuing to provide military supplies to President Putin’s forces despite Western pressure and sanctions.
Meanwhile, Beijing has downplayed attempts by Ukrainian leaders to start a dialogue, as seen recently in the Swiss Alps, where the Chinese delegation at Davos snubbed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the World Economic Forum. continues to do so.
Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of mining and green energy company Fortescue, agreed with Rudd. In an interview with Politico, Forrest said China’s priority is to lift its people out of poverty and that being “official neutral” toward Russia could be economically advantageous. However, he cautioned that this support is not unlimited.
“Any mischief by Russia against nuclear weapons of any kind would quickly evaporate support and goodwill resistance.”