Kyiv and Moscow welcome China’s intervention in the peace process
spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, says Moscow appreciated China’s plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and said it was open to achieving the goals of what it calls its “special military operation” through political and diplomatic means.
She said:
We appreciate the sincere desire of our Chinese friends to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means… We share Beijing’s views.
But this would also mean recognizing “new territorial realities” in Ukraine, Zakharova said, referring to Russia’s unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – as well as Crimea.
Her statements came as the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that there were points in the Chinese proposals that were understandable’ and ‘there are those that we do not’.
“But it is something,” he added at a press conference on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Zelenskiy said:
China has shown its thoughts. I think the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad.
But the question is what follows the words. The question lies in the steps and where they should lead.
Key events
Zelenskiy asks the BBC’s James Waterhouse if he can send one more question Rishi Sunak for fighter jets and typhoons.
If #Ukraine If the war is not won in the next year, what will it be because of, wonders a British journalist? Zelenskiy says he doesn’t want to think about it, claiming: “We will win.” He quips, “Where are my Typhoon planes. Ask my friend Rishi (Sunak)!”
— Luke Harding (@lukeharding1968) February 24, 2023
Prime Minister of Great Britain, Rishi Sunak, told the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) that he supported Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s demands China to engage with Ukraine during a virtual meeting to mark the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Downing Street has said.
During the meeting, Sunak said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “was not just a Euro-Atlantic problem, but an attack on universal principles,” a spokesman for the prime minister said.
The G7 leaders “reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed on the need to continue intensifying military assistance,” and “commended the unwavering international unity over the past year,” they said.
The leaders also discussed the strong show of support for Ukraine at the UN last night, with the Prime Minister stressing that by supporting Ukraine, the international community is upholding the UN Charter.
They added:
Reflecting on China’s ceasefire proposal, the prime minister said he supported President Zelenskiy’s calls for China to engage with Ukraine, adding that peace can only be achieved on Ukraine’s terms.
The prime minister added that the international community needed to support Ukraine with long-term military and security guarantees to send a strong message to President Putin that global support was permanent.
Zelenskiy says he plans to meet with China’s Xi Jinping
Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he plans to meet with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and said it would be “useful” for both countries and global security.
“As far as I know, China respects historical integrity,” he told a news conference in Kiev.
China must do its best to ensure that the Russian Federation withdraws from our territory because that is what respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty means.
My colleague Luke Harding covers Volodymyr Zelenskiypress conference in Kyiv.
Asked if Putin will try to invade another country, given his military setbacks in the UkraineZelenskiy replies:
Unfortunately yes. I think it is possible and it can happen.
He warns against it Russia “will come for NATO states if the US abandons Ukraine” in the war.
ABC News asks Zelenskiy what he thinks about polls showing a growing number of Americans oppose $$$$ #Ukraine? He says that if the US stops supporting Kiev, it will lose “global leadership” and eventually be forced to send its “sons and daughters” to fight in Europe
— Luke Harding (@lukeharding1968) February 24, 2023
Russia may send warplanes to Iran, White House says
The White House says it believes Russia can provide Iran with fighter jets and other military equipment in exchange for support for its war in Ukraine
The White House national security spokesman speaks to reporters, John Kirby, said the US had information that Iran had sent artillery and tank rounds to Russia in November.
In return, Russia offered “unprecedented defense cooperation,” including on missiles, electronics and fighter jets, he said.
He said Iran was also seeking to buy attack helicopters, radars and fighter jets.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy still taking questions from journalists at a press conference in Kiev. We’ll have a full breakdown of what he said, but here are a few more key points:
Ukraine’s president said one of his biggest disappointments during the war had been to see people who might have fought leave the country when Russia invaded, citing officials who fled.
Asked if he would join negotiations brokered by Turkey if Vladimir Putin came to the table, Zelenskiy said he would “accept” it.
The Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “Knowing my vision,” Zelenskiy said.
We discussed this before the war. I told him to put Putin at the table for negotiations. ‘Can we please do that? We must avert full-scale war.’ But (Erdogan) couldn’t do it. Not only he – he is powerful – but he cannot do it. And now he thinks he is? Now we can’t.
Zelenskiy also dismissed Russia’s accusations that Kiev has targets in Moldova’s Russian-speaking region of Transdniestria. The region was Moldova’s sovereign territory, he said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, has shared a photo of him shaking hands with his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, in front of the first Leopard 2 tanks in Kiev.
Writing on Twitter, Shmyhal said Kiev was grateful to Poland for the “decisive steps that bring Ukraine closer to victory” and that he was waiting for the expansion of the Western “tank coalition”.
The Leopard 2 tanks are already in #Ukraine. Together with the Prime Minister @MorawieckiM, we met the first thoughts of partners. We are grateful to Poland 🇵🇱 for the decisive steps that bring 🇺🇦 closer to victory. We are waiting for the expansion of the tank coalition. pic.twitter.com/Brs2iuNelt
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) February 24, 2023
G7 to “take action” against countries that support Russia’s war in Ukraine
The Group of Seven nations (G7) is taking action against third-country actors who “materially support Russia’s wars in Ukraine,” the bloc said in a statement as it reaffirmed its support for Ukraine.
The statement reads:
We call on third countries or other international actors who seek to evade or undermine our actions to stop providing material support to Russia’s war, or face severe costs.
To deter this activity around the world, we are taking action against third-country actors who materially support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Luke Harding
Asked about Australia would reopen its embassy in Kiev, Zelenskiy says he would like to shake hands with the returning Australian ambassador. He says:
Please come back. But on a Bushmeister. We need another one.
Another amusing moment at the press conference, when Zelenskiy is asked about #Australia should reopen its still-closed embassy in Kiev? He says he would like to shake hands with the returning Oz ambassador. “Please come back. But on a Bushmeister (armored vehicle). We need another one,” he jokes
— Luke Harding (@lukeharding1968) February 24, 2023
Here are some more comments from Volodymyr Zelenskiy on China’s proposal for a cease-fire. Zelenskiy said he welcomed some parts of the plan, but said only the country where a war is being fought should be the initiator of a peace plan.
At a press conference in Kiev, Zelenskiy said:
I think it is correct to believe that if there are thoughts that are somehow consistent with respect for international law, with territorial integrity… let’s work with China on this point. Why not?
He urged Beijing not to arm Moscow, but added that it was promising that China, an ally of Russiaconsidered brokering peace, adding:
Our task is to collect all to isolate one.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has appeared to dig China’s recently published 12-point ceasefire proposal to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York, Blinken said he expected “many countries will call for peace today”, but “history teaches us that it is the nature of peace that matters”.
Council members should not be fooled by calls for a temporary or unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and should not fall into the “false equivalency” of calling on both sides to stop fighting, he said.
Russia will use any lull in the fighting to consolidate control of the territory and replenish its forces, he said.
Any peace that legitimizes Russia’s seizure of land by force will weaken the charter and send a message to would-be aggressors everywhere that they can invade countries and get away with it.
Asked to share a moment of the war that he found most difficult, Zelensky answered:
Bucha. The moment we occupied Bucha. What I saw. It was horrible. What we have seen… the devil is not somewhere beneath us – he is among us.
Asked what the chances are for him to negotiate with Vladimir Putin, Zelenskiy said he had a message for Moscow:
Respect our right to live on our land, get out of our territory, stop bombing us, stop killing civilians… stop the bombing.
Very strong response from Zelenskiy if Ukraine should “compromise” with Moscow. Says this is only possible when Russia stops killing civilians, destroying infrastructure, burning forests
— Luke Harding (@lukeharding1968) February 24, 2023
Kyiv and Moscow welcome China’s intervention in the peace process
spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, says Moscow appreciated China’s plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and said it was open to achieving the goals of what it calls its “special military operation” through political and diplomatic means.
She said:
We appreciate the sincere desire of our Chinese friends to contribute to resolving the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means… We share Beijing’s views.
But this would also mean recognizing “new territorial realities” in Ukraine, Zakharova said, referring to Russia’s unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – as well as Crimea.
Her statements came as the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that there were points in the Chinese proposals that were understandable’ and ‘there are those that we do not’.
“But it is something,” he added at a press conference on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Zelenskiy said:
China has shown its thoughts. I think the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad.
But the question is what follows the words. The question lies in the steps and where they should lead.