China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing was “very concerned” about civilian casualties in Ukraine’s conflict. The phone chat on Tuesday night was the first high-level interaction between Ukraine and China, which has neither criticized nor characterized Russia’s activities as an invasion.
Mr. Wang did not do so either, despite the fact that his words concerning civilian casualties were the most forceful yet from China in response to Moscow’s actions. China and India, which both abstained on UN Security Council resolutions aimed at Russia, have expressed similar concerns in recent days about the rising violence, the safety of their citizens in Ukraine, and diplomacy’s failure.
Neither has explicitly criticized Russia, though the worsening situation, combined with growing global shock over the events in Ukraine, will complicate their tightrope walk, with neither side — particularly China, which is under increasing pressure from the West as a permanent member of the UNSC and because of its close ties with Russia — wanting to be seen as a Putin enabler.
China called Putin
Mr. Wang’s phone chat with Mr. Kuleba, which the Chinese side claimed was prompted by Ukraine, underscored that delicate balancing act, coming only days after President Xi Jinping met with Mr. Putin. As of Wednesday morning, the Chinese leader had not yet spoken to Ukraine’s President Zelensky.
“The situation in Ukraine, according to Wang Yi, has changed fast and significantly. China is very saddened by the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia and is concerned about civilian casualties, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China always respected the sovereignty of countries
Mr. Wang stated that China has “always championed respect for all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Mr. Wang was cited as stating, “On the current issue, China urges on Ukraine and Russia to find a solution through discussions and supports all positive international efforts that lead to a political settlement.”
In line with China’s current stance, support for Ukraine’s sovereignty was once again couched in terms of acknowledging Russia’s broader security concerns. “Wang Yi emphasized that China has long thought that one country’s security should not be attained at the price of other nations’ security and that regional security cannot be reached by growing military blocs,” according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese Foreign Minister emphasized Beijing’s particular concerns for the safety of Chinese citizens, urging Ukraine to “take its proper international duties.” “The Chinese government places a high priority on the safety of Chinese citizens in Ukraine and is constantly concerned about their safety,” Mr. Wang said, adding that the evacuation was “making progress, thanks to the Ukrainian side’s support and cooperation, as well as friendly assistance from all walks of life in Ukraine.”
China “appreciates Ukraine’s arrangement of special trains for the evacuation of foreign nationals, which is consistent with international humanitarianism,” he said. “It is hoped that Ukraine will take all necessary steps to secure the safety of Chinese residents in Ukraine and continue to give assurance and ease of departure,” he added.
According to the Chinese government, over 1,000 Chinese people in Ukraine had been securely moved to Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, and Poland as of Tuesday.