Meeting with Chinese envoy, Russia accuses Ukraine and the West of obstructing negotiations

Foreign Minister Lavrov told China's envoy that Russia was ready to resolve the conflict with Ukraine, but accused Kiev and the West of obstructing negotiations.

"Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thanked China for maintaining a balanced stance on the Ukraine crisis and welcomed Beijing's readiness to play an active role in resolving this issue," the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on May 26 about the meeting between Mr. Lavrov and the Chinese government's special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui in Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Lavrov and Mr. Li discussed the situation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and prospects for resolving the crisis.

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict, but "noted the serious obstacles posed by the Ukrainian side and Western guarantors to the resumption of peace talks".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shakes hands with Chinese special envoy Li Hui before a meeting in Moscow on May 26. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shakes hands with Chinese special envoy Li Hui before a meeting in Moscow on May 26. Photo: *Russian Foreign Ministry*

Li's meeting with Lavrov is part of a Chinese diplomatic delegation's European tour to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Li had previously traveled to Kiev and met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on May 17.

After the meeting, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it would not accept any peace proposal that involved territorial concessions to Russia. In a later statement, China's Foreign Ministry said Li told Ukrainian officials that "all sides need to build trust and create conditions for a cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations."

China released a 12-point peace plan for the Ukraine crisis in February. China said it would work towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible, saying negotiations were the "only solution" to the conflict.

Mr. Li served as ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019, becoming the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the country. During Mr. Li's tenure as ambassador, Chinese President Xi Jinping made nine official visits to Russia.

A few months before the end of his term, Mr. Li was awarded the Order of Friendship by President Vladimir Putin for his contributions to strengthening Russia-China relations.

Nguyen Tien (According to TASS, AFP )

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