Olaf Scholz and Xi Jinping
Zelensky, China could accelerate peace at the Swiss summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that China could help achieve a “just peace” for Ukraine by participating in an international peace conference in Switzerland in June. “I am confident that the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland can begin the real path to achieving a just peace for Ukraine. China's active role can certainly accelerate our progress on this path,” Zelensky argues in a post on X.
Moscow: “China's approach to the Ukrainian crisis is balanced and constructive.”
Beijing's approach to the conflict in Ukraine “is very balanced and constructive”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is convinced of this while “at the moment we are not recording any change in the position of the Kiev regime”. However, Moscow is aware that “Beijing remains active on a diplomatic level” and “appreciates Beijing's balanced position”.
Scholz: “With Xi in support of the peace conference on Ukraine”
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly agreed to support the Swiss-sponsored peace conference on Ukraine. “President Xi and I agreed that China and Germany want to coordinate intensively and positively to promote the organization of the high-level conference in Switzerland and future international peace conferences,” Scholz wrote in an X post.
Präsident Xi und ich haben veroinbart: China und Deutschland wollen sich über die Förderung der Ausrichtung einer hochrangigen Konferenz in der Schweiz und künftiger internationaler Friedenskonanzen intensiv und positiv abzustimmen. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/UzbP0Kfsui
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 16, 2024
Scholz: “I asked Xi to put pressure on Putin to end the war”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked Chinese President Xi Jinping, during their meeting in Beijing, to “put pressure” on Russia to “withdraw his troops” and “end” the war in Ukraine. “China's word carries weight in Russia. I therefore asked President Xi to put pressure on Russia to finally stop his crazy campaign, withdraw his troops and end this terrible war,” Scholz wrote in a message on X.
Zelensky criticizes allies: “Israel has allies in heaven, we have allies on paper”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argues with his allies by comparing the efficiency of the anti-aircraft guns deployed in defense of Israel with the lack of missiles in Kiev. “It's really a demonstration of what allies are, not on paper, but in the sky,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine defends the skies alone. Ukrainska Pravda reports it. The allies give Ukraine weapons and defenses but “we have a shortage of them”. “I'll give you a very simple example: at the Trypilska power plant we destroyed the first 7 Russian missiles but 4 destroyed it because we exhausted all the missiles defending the power plant.”
Zelensky, “Shameful that the US separates aid from Kiev and Israel”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it shameful that Republican Speaker of the US House Mike Johnson presented a proposal to put aid for Israel and Ukraine to the vote in several bills. The US Congress could thus approve new aid to Tel Aviv, but not to Kiev. “It's strange. It makes you think that this is pure politics,” Zelensky said in an interview with PBS NewsHour, “and to be honest, it's a shame for the world. And it's a shame for democracy and everyone who they only talk about democracy.”
Reuters: “Russia and Ukraine have been negotiating an agreement on the Black Sea for two months”
Russia and Ukraine have been negotiating an agreement with Turkey for two months to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and they had reached an agreement on a text that should have been announced by Ankara last month but in the end Kiev suddenly withdrew: this was reported by Reuters on the website citing its sources. An agreement had been reached in March “to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea” and, although Ukraine did not want to formally sign it, Kiev had given its consent for the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to announce it on March 30 . “At the last minute, Ukraine suddenly withdrew and the deal fell through,” said one of four sources who spoke to Reuters.
Xi presents Scholz with “four principles” for peace in Ukraine
Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed four principles to follow to prevent the Ukrainian crisis from spiraling out of control and to restore peace quickly, in the meeting he had in Beijing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. State network CCTV reported that Xi said he prioritized maintaining peace and stability over “selfish gains”; to cooling the situation by avoiding adding fuel to the fire; to the creation of conditions to restore peace and stop the exacerbation of tensions. Finally, the further reduction of “the negative impact on the world economy”.
Scholz, with Xi I will discuss a just peace in Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would discuss a “just peace” in Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping at today's bilateral meeting in Beijing. “My meeting with President Xi will also focus on how we can contribute more to a just peace in Ukraine,” Scholz wrote in a post on my last visit to China. We have many topics to discuss.”
Zelensky, allies defend us as they did with Israel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies to defend Ukraine the same way they did Israel in the face of Iran's attack. “By defending Israel, the free world has demonstrated that unity among allies is not only possible but 100% effective,” Zelensky said last night after a meeting with top military and security officials in Kiev. “The decisive actions of the allies prevented the success of terrorism and the loss of infrastructure and forced the aggressor to calm down. The same can be done to defend Ukraine from terrorism. And Ukraine just like Israel is not a member of NATO”, underlined Zelensky quoted by the local media.
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