Chinese peace plan brings us back to Russian disinformation - Piontkovsky

Political scientist Andrey Piontkovsky said this on the air of the Studio West with Antin Borkovskyi program on Espreso TV. 

“The Chinese representative also discussed this peace plan with Blinken in Munich. And during his speech in Munich, he revealed its contours. Ukraine will never agree and will immediately reject this plan, and the Chinese understand this, but they are working for a different purpose. In Munich, the Chinese representative said: “My plan is based on the following principles: the first is the territorial integrity of the state.” By the way, China has always insisted on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, it has never recognized the annexation, and this is to be welcomed,” Piontkovsky emphasized.

According to the political scientist, NATO is already persuading Ukraine to join the Alliance.

“But there is also a second point in the Chinese plan: the need to take into account the legitimate concerns of all states. This brings us back to Russian fakes about their 'legitimate' concern over the existence of an independent Ukraine and its people. That is, he will propose something similar to what was discussed in Istanbul. It is unlikely that it will be principled on the issue of territorial integrity, but will propose a step-by-step mechanism: firstly, Russian troops withdraw to the February 23 line, and then, in a few months or years, after referendums, to the 1991 borders. But Ukraine must take these concerns into account and acquire a neutral status or refuse to join NATO. How can we refuse NATO when NATO is no longer just promising through Stoltenberg's mouth - NATO is persuading Ukraine to join, so the situation is different,” Piontkovsky emphasized.

• On February 24, China published a document with a position on a 'political settlement' of Russia's war against Ukraine. The so-called peace plan consists of 12 points.

• The White House promptly responded to the 'peace plan' by noting that they could stop at the first point - respect for sovereignty.

• US President Joe Biden rejected the 'peace plan' proposed by China, suggesting that its implementation would benefit only Moscow.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted to the plan, expressing his desire to meet with Xi Jinping.

• Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the clause on lifting sanctions against Russia in the 'peace plan' proposed by China is unacceptable to Ukraine.