China should make peace proposal that would attract both sides - international expert Semyvolos

Ihor Semyvolos, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, said this on Espreso.

“China cannot shoot in the air. They consider themselves a very serious country with huge ambitions. They must have proposals that simply cannot be rejected. It must be something that attracts at least Russia and Ukraine,” he said.

The expert said that he has not seen such a proposal yet and it is quite possible that it will not appear now, but will be formed later.

“After these visits and negotiations, the Chinese will pause, say that the parties are not ready, and come back with a proposal in a while. The very idea of Chinese mediation attracts many people. China is a serious country with great potential that can, under certain circumstances, become a guarantor. For this to happen, these circumstances need to arise, and I don't see such a prospect yet,” Semyvolos said.

• According to Reuters, Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to visit Moscow next week and meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

• The WSJ reported that Xi Jinping plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.