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Russian Foreign Minister
Petra Williams Petrathespectator.com
All eyes continue to watch the international diplomatic chessboard. In the latest move, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a ninety-minute phone conversation on Monday, February 24, regarding bilateral relations and the Ukraine crisis.
This call followed a meeting of top US officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Russian officials, led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week.
During the conversation, President Xi stressed that “China-Russia ties enjoy a strong endogenous driving force and unique strategic value, which are neither targeted at nor affected by any third party.” He remarked that the development strategies and foreign policies of both countries are long-term, and changes in the international landscape will not retard China-Russia ties.
Mutual cooperation will enhance each country’s development and inject stability and positivity into international relations.
President Putin also emphasized that Russia places great importance on its relationship with China and anticipates maintaining high-level exchanges as well as deepening practical cooperation.
In the current situation, close communication between Russia and China is achieved through the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership for coordination in the new era. Strong bilateral relations will send a positive message that Russia and China play a stabilizing role in international affairs.
Xi reflected that history and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbours that cannot be “moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe, support each other and achieve common development.”
President Putin updated on the latest interactions between Russia and the United States and reiterated Russia’s principled position on the Ukraine crisis. He said that Russia is committed to removing the root causes of the conflict and reaching a sustainable, long-term peace plan.
President Xi welcomed positive efforts made by Russia and relevant parties to resolve the crisis and noted that soon after the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, he had outlined China’s essential position, including four points about what must be done to address the situation.
In April 2024, Xi presented the following points: First, prioritize the upholding of peace and stability and refrain from seeking selfish gains; second, cool down the situation and not add fuel to the fire; third, create conditions for the restoration of peace and refrain from further exacerbating tensions; and fourth, we should reduce the negative impact on the world economy and refrain from undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
The two sides also agreed to maintain communication and coordination through various means, and both leaders agreed to jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
The same day, French President Macron met with US President Trump in the United States. At a joint press conference, Trump lauded the meeting as an essential step toward reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Macron commended Trump for agreeing to work with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a rare minerals agreement that would provide more security guarantees.
He stated, “This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a cease-fire without guarantees. This peace must allow Ukrainian sovereignty and Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders”.
Both meetings took place on the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. A United Nations resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the anniversary date failed when the United States voted against it.
Ukraine continues to make international pleas for assistance to continue its resistance to Russia’s War. European nations are in dialogue with each other to develop strategies to ensure that they are a part of any peace negotiations and to continue to support Ukraine as a collective or to encourage other friendly nations to continue.
England’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet with President Trump on Thursday as part of the continued efforts of NATO members to convince the US of the importance of favourable outcomes for Ukraine in any peace agreement as part of the overall Western Alliance.
Petra needs to get a real job rather than bombard our eyes with these bouring articles. Antigua.news why do you even publish them? Slow news day?