China: Ukrainian Kuleba in Beijing for Peace Talks

So far, Ukraine has always neglected peace initiatives proposed by China, Russia’s strategic partner. But the continuing deterioration of Ukrainian troops on the frontline, the Russian offensive, and the prospect of Donald Trump winning the US presidential election have all prompted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to rush to Beijing, where he could briefly meet with Chinese diplomatic chief Wang Yi tomorrow (July 24). Kuleba, whose trip was scheduled to last until July 26, had hoped to have another conversation with the Chinese foreign minister, who said he was unavailable because he would be visiting Laos from July 25 to 27 for a series of meetings with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In a press release, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote that “the main topic of the discussions will be to analyze China’s possible role in achieving a consolidated and just peace.” Just over a year ago, Kiev categorically rejected the Chinese peace initiatives presented on May 16-17, 2023, to Ukrainian President Zelensky and Kuleba himself by China’s Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs, former Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Li Hui.

The Kremlin did not wish to comment on Ukraine’s decision to start a peace dialog with Beijing: “The main thing for Russia is bilateral relations with China,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to whom “the two countries continue to develop a strategic partnership based on very constructive and good relations between the leaders of our two states.”

Kuleba arrived in Beijing on the day of a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on energy cooperation between Russia and China in the Russian capital. “The purpose of this trip to Russia is to implement together with Russian colleagues the important agreements reached by our heads of state during meetings this year, strengthening our cooperation in investment and energy,” Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of China’s State Council, emphasized on the sidelines of the meeting.

In June, Russia exported a record $737 million worth of natural gas to China through pipelines. On a year-on-year basis, Russian natural gas exports to China increased by 29 percent. In the first six months of 2024, Russia sold approximately $4 billion worth of natural gas to China (+17.4% compared to the same period in 2023).

In terms of oil exports, Russia sees a possible increase in the supply of Russian crude oil to China via the Black Sea and Baltic Sea. Sergey Mochalnikov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia, said at the meeting of the intergovernmental commission: “With pipeline flows fully utilized, we see the prospect of increasing Russian oil supplies to China by sea with shipments that can depart from Black Sea and Baltic Sea ports. Russia is ready to implement this initiative,” the deputy minister said.

Finally, China and Russia intend to improve cooperation in mutual investment. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Russian First Vice Premier Denis Manturov said they are ready to cooperate to further raise the level of investment cooperation after “positive results” in recent years. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening “political support” for the sector and “creating a favorable environment for transactions.”