Belarus President Lukashenko to visit China next week

Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Putin, will make a state go to to China from February 28 to March 2.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
Chinese language President Xi Jinping (R) with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko [File: Andrea Verdelli/Pool via Reuters]

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will go to China on February 28 for a state go to, the Chinese language international ministry mentioned on Saturday.

Lukashenko is a detailed ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has backed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus depending on its neighbour each financially and politically.

“On the invitation of Chinese language President Xi Jinping, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko pays a state go to to China from February 28 to March 2,” spokesperson Hua Chunying mentioned.

Final September, Xi and Lukashenko introduced an “all-weather” strategic partnership, after they met within the Uzbek metropolis of Samarkand.

A yr in the past, Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine and Russia, allowed Russia to make use of its territory as a launchpad for its assault on Ukraine. Lukashenko mentioned earlier this month that Belarus was prepared to take action once more.

Kyiv has voiced considerations for months that Belarus may be a part of the struggle on Russia’s aspect, a possible risk that has pressured it to divert troops to defend the north of Ukraine whereas waging struggle with Russia within the east and south.

In a cellphone name on Friday, Chinese language international minister Qin Gang instructed his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik that Beijing was prepared to work with Minsk to deepen mutual political belief, the Chinese language international ministry mentioned.

China will even proceed to assist Belarus in sustaining its nationwide stability, and can oppose makes an attempt by “exterior forces” to intervene in its inner affairs or impose “unlawful” unilateral sanctions on Minsk, Qin instructed Aleinik.

China’s peace proposal

China on Friday launched a 12-point place paper on the battle, calling for pressing peace talks and a “political settlement” to the Ukraine disaster.

Timed to coincide with the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the paper urges all events to “assist Russia and Ukraine in working in the identical path and resuming direct dialogue as rapidly as potential”.

Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy welcomed some parts of the Chinese language proposal, however mentioned solely the nation the place a struggle is being fought must be the initiator of a peace plan.

Zelenskyy mentioned he was planning to satisfy Xi and famous Beijing’s plan appeared to indicate that “there may be respect for our territorial integrity, safety points”.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, mentioned any plan to finish Russia’s struggle in Ukraine should contain the withdrawal of Moscow’s troops again to Ukraine’s 1991 borders on the time of the Soviet Union’s collapse.

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned he'll go to China in “early April”, and referred to as on Beijing to “assist us stress Russia” to finish the struggle in Ukraine, the AFP information company reported on Saturday.

Macron mentioned peace was solely potential if “the Russian aggression was halted, troops withdrawn and territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and its individuals was revered”.

“The truth that China is partaking in peace efforts is an effective factor,” he mentioned, asking Beijing “to not provide any arms to Russia”.

He additionally sought Beijing’s assist to “exert stress on Russia to make sure it by no means makes use of chemical or nuclear weapons and it stops this aggression previous to negotiations”.

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