Putin welcomes Xi's plan for peace in Ukraine as US warns of 'stalling tactic'

Vladimir Putin welcomed China's proposals for peace in Ukraine at a joint press conference with Xi Jinping in Moscow yesterday - a plan the west has warned would allow the Kremlin to "freeze" its territorial gains in the country.

- Pjotr Sauer, Helen Davidson 

Speaking at the Kremlin after the second day of talks with China's president, Putin said Beijing's peace plan "correlates to the point of view of the Russian Federation" and said that Ukraine's western allies so far had shown no interest in it.

China last month proposed a 12-point peace plan for ending the war. The paper largely reiterated Beijing's talking points, with calls for dialogue, respect for all countries' territorial sovereignty and an end to economic sanctions. It urged all parties to avoid nuclear escalation but critically did not suggest Russia withdraw its forces.

On Monday, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, voiced scepticism over China's proposals, warning they could be a "stalling tactic" to help Russian troops in Ukraine. "The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms," he said.

Kyiv has said that any talks would be contingent on the complete restoration of Ukraine's territory.

Xi, who seeks to play the role of global peacemaker, yesterday repeated China's position that it supported peace talks and that Beijing has always taken an "objective" and impartial" view of the conflict.

He added that he and Putin had "established close relations and built strategic communication."

Xi's statements suggested that the talks provided no major breakthrough in the peace efforts.

Still, Xi's trip to Moscow, his first state visit since the invasion, has been viewed as a major boost for Putin and provided Moscow with an opportunity to show it has not been isolated by the global community.