A ceasefire in Ukraine could give the Russian Federation time to build up its forces. John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the US National Security Council, said this in an interview with Fox News.
“Preparing new people, training them, and trying to plan a new attack,” Kirby said, is how Moscow would benefit from a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
He also stressed that the US considers possible calls for peace in Ukraine during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow on March 20-22 as “unacceptable”.
According to Kirby, Washington expects Xi Jinping to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to listen to the position of the Ukrainian authorities. He added that American authorities plan to keep the channel of communication with China open.
On March 17, John Kirby already said almost the same thing – the US leadership hopes that Chinese President Xi Jinping will contact Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky after visiting Moscow, they also do not believe that there will be an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. It would be a step towards a just and lasting peace proposed by China.
“We continue to think that it is very important. [Си Цзиньпин] “I listened not only to Mr Putin and not only the Russian point of view, but also the Ukrainian side,” Kirby said. According to him, the current ceasefire “will essentially become a confirmation of the Russian conquests.”
In February, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, urged Moscow and Kiev to cease fire and sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible. China has previously stated that it wants to play a mediating role in this conflict and presented its own 12-point plan to resolve the crisis on the anniversary of Russia’s military special operations.
The first three points are respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality and cessation of hostilities.
In addition, the position of the PRC includes the following recommendations:
– resumption of peace talks;
– resolution of the humanitarian crisis;
— the protection of the civilian population and prisoners;
— ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants;
— reduction of strategic risks;
– assistance in the export of grain;
— the end of unilateral sanctions;
— maintaining the stability of supply chains and production;
– Assistance in the restoration of territories after the end of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainian and foreign journalists at a press conference that he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but did not explain how and when this meeting will take place.
“First of all, I plan to meet with Xi Jinping and I believe it will be beneficial for our countries and world security,” said the Ukrainian leader.
According to Zelensky, he wants to discuss with the leader of the PRC not only military operations in the country, but also economic ties between the two states.
Commenting on the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding his plans to meet with Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that China continues its contacts with all parties to the Ukrainian conflict.
Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in an interview with Newsmax TV that Kiev opposes ceasefire offers. The statement was a comment on China’s peaceful solution proposal published on February 24, 2023.
According to Yermak, the Ukrainian leadership is extremely skeptical and distrustful of such signals, because they suspect that Russia “always uses the ceasefire for its own purposes.”
On February 24, Secretary of State at the UN Security Council, Anthony Blinken, said the United States opposes a ceasefire in Ukraine and believes Russia will use any break in hostilities to amass resources and further offensive operations.
On March 17, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that official talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be held in Moscow on 21 March. They will discuss the Ukrainian conflict, among other issues.