In an interview published in the local state media on Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked China for protection guarantees and sharply criticized Russia. “Ukraine is currently exploring the possibility of receiving security guarantees from permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, and other major powers,” Kuleba told Xinhua News Agency. “This is a sign of our respect and trust in the People’s Republic of China.”
Beijing had already pledged to assist Ukraine in 2013 if it was attacked or threatened with nuclear weapons. Since Russia’s invasion, however, the Chinese leadership has been evasive on the issue. A spokesman for the State Department last month only referred to “substantive restrictions” and “certain conditions” that would result from a United Nations resolution for non-nuclear armed states.
The interview with Kuleba now contained unusually open criticism of Russia. The Ukrainian accused Moscow of endangering China’s “New Silk Road” infrastructure initiative and the Chinese economy with its “invasion”. “We believe that this war is not in China’s interest,” Xinhua continued to quote the foreign minister.
KEYSTONE / AP Photo / Francisco Seco