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Could China play a role in bringing Russia to the negotiating table?
There are several geopolitical dynamics and strategic calculations at play when it comes to China’s potential role in resolving the conflict.
The U.S. and some European officials are hopeful that Ukraine’s planned spring offensive could lead to negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, with China potentially playing a role in talks.
As a WSJ article mentioned on May 7, 2023:
“Some U.S. and European officials believe that Ukraine’s planned spring offensive could pave the way for negotiations, and the U.S. has expressed cautious optimism about China’s involvement in resolving the conflict.”
Although there is a possibility that a broadly-framed cease-fire agreement may involve China among its guarantors, however, the effectiveness of China’s role in bringing Russia to the negotiating table would depend on a complex set of geopolitical dynamics and strategic calculations.
The China-Russia-Ukraine triangle relationship
Firstly, China and Russia have historically had a complicated relationship. While they share a border and have cooperated on some issues, they have also been strategic…
