Ukrainian minister suggests using China as leverage to gain advantage in conflict with Russia

On Friday, Ukraine’s finance minister suggested that Kyiv use its bilateral ties with China to gain leverage and put an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion. The minister made the comments following a phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week, which marked the first conversation between the leaders since the conflict began in February last year.

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, during an interview with CNBC’s Silvia Amaro in Stockholm, Sweden, said that he was not entirely convinced that anything specific could be emphasized after the conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, he added that it was essential to maintain a dialogue between the two countries.

“We acknowledge the significance of China and the need to establish our independent relationship with China to avoid their complete support for Russia,” said Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko in an interview with CNBC’s Silvia Amaro in Stockholm, Sweden.

Marchenko rejected the notion that China could be Ukraine’s closest ally in the quest for peace, stating that it was not the case, and mentioned that the United States, the Group of Seven nations, and all of Ukraine’s partners who support them were the primary allies.

According to Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, his country should utilize its relationship with China to help end the ongoing war with Russia. Marchenko made this statement following a conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week, their first discussion since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022. While Marchenko acknowledged the importance of maintaining a dialogue between the two countries, he stated that the United States, Group of Seven nations, and other partners supporting Ukraine are the country’s closest allies. However, he also emphasized that Ukraine should use every opportunity, including its relationship with China, to pressure Russia to end the war. China recently announced its intention to send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties involved, indicating a shift in its stance towards the conflict.

According to Chinese state media, President Xi informed his Ukrainian counterpart during the call that China would prioritize efforts to promote peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy tweeted that the “long and meaningful” conversation could provide a significant boost to the development of bilateral relations.

Political and defense analysts are paying close attention to the timing of the call between the Chinese and Ukrainian leaders, as well as China’s decision to send representatives to Ukraine, especially since Ukraine is believed to be planning a major counteroffensive against Russian forces in an attempt to regain control of the eastern and southern territories.