Chinese Foreign Minister Will Visit Russia to Discuss Ukraine Peace Push

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Russia from March 31 to April 2 for official discussions on bilateral ties and efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, both countries confirmed on Friday.

The visit underscores continued high-level engagement between Beijing and Moscow.

China claims neutrality in the war against Ukraine and states it has not provided lethal assistance to either side, distinguishing its role from that of the United States and other Western nations.

However, it remains a key political and economic ally of Russia. NATO has described Beijing as a “decisive enabler” of the war, a charge China denies.

Currently, no statements from US officials regarding Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s upcoming visit to Russia have been made.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Wang Yi’s visit, made at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, will include meetings with Russian leadership and in-depth talks on global and regional matters.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun noted that China intends to use the visit to “promote the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state.”

Russia’s foreign ministry said the discussions would focus on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing pressing international issues, including the prospects for resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The visit underscores continued high-level engagement between Beijing and Moscow.

China itslef claims neutrality in the war against Ukraine and states it has not provided lethal assistance to either side. However, it remains a key political and economic ally of Russia. NATO has described Beijing as a “decisive enabler” of the war, a charge China denies.

The visit follows a series of high-level contacts between the two nations. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, commending Moscow’s “positive efforts to defuse” the war against Ukraine.

On February 28, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu traveled to Beijing for talks.

While China has voiced support for ceasefire efforts, Western governments continue to urge Beijing to use its influence over Moscow.

During a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné told Wang Yi that China has “a role to play in convincing Russia to come to the negotiating table with serious and good-faith proposals.”

Moscow also confirmed plans for upcoming state visits, with Xi scheduled to attend World War II commemorations in Russia on May 9, and Putin expected in China later this year.

In related news, Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone stated that a frozen war would be the worst-case scenario, emphasizing the need to prioritize a genuine and lasting resolution.