“End Russia-Ukraine War: Talks Instead of Weapon Shipments”

China’s envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, has called for Ukraine’s allies to stop sending weapons to Kyiv and instead focus on negotiations to achieve lasting peace. Li’s appeal comes as the US and many European nations increase their supplies of missiles, tanks, and other weapons to Ukrainian forces in their efforts to reclaim territory occupied by Russia. Li stated that if the goal is to stop the war and achieve peace, weapons must be kept out of the battlefield. He added that there are currently “many difficulties” in sitting down and engaging in talks to end the war, but both sides have not fully shut the door on peace talks. Li toured European capitals last month to promote Ukraine peace talks and completed a 12-day tour of Kyiv, Warsaw, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, and Moscow in May to find common ground for an eventual political settlement. Despite being neutral, China has supported Moscow politically and released a proposed peace plan in February. The US has provided around $37bn in military aid to Ukraine since the invasion last year, while European nations have also stepped up their military aid to Kyiv.