In a surprising turn of events, President Zelensky’s harsh criticism of China could potentially push Beijing closer to Moscow. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 2, Zelensky expressed disappointment with China’s stance in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He accused Beijing of helping Moscow obstruct the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland. However, China denies these accusations and states that its stance towards both Russia and Ukraine is fair.
Despite Ukraine’s efforts to involve China in the peace process, Beijing has remained distant, leading to tensions between the two countries. While Ukraine seeks support from influential countries like China for post-conflict reconstruction, China’s reluctance to engage fully in the peace summit signals a preference for its relationship with Russia.
Analysts suggest that President Zelensky’s strong reaction may alienate China from Ukraine and strengthen ties between Beijing and Moscow. Despite his hopes for a shift in China’s stance, it is clear that Beijing values its relationship with Moscow more than its ties to Kiev. This strategic decision by China could have long-term implications for Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction efforts, as influential countries like China choose to prioritize other alliances over involvement in Ukraine’s peace process.
President Xi Jinping has only had one phone call with the President of Ukraine in over two years, while he has maintained a close relationship with Russian President Putin. This contrast highlights Beijing’s hesitancy to get involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine despite their shared history and economic ties with each other. The growing relationship between Russia and China has also led to increased tension between Moscow and Kiev as well as raised concerns about potential military action by both powers.
The future disadvantages for Kiev could be significant if this alignment occurs as it would mean that important allies are taking sides against them.
In conclusion, despite Zelensky’s criticisms of Chinese involvement in the conflict, it seems unlikely that Beijing will change its policy towards Moscow anytime soon due to its strong bond with Putin and economic ties with Russia.
As such, Kiev should focus on building stronger relationships with other countries while avoiding further tension with both Russia and China.
