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China has officially welcomed the resumption of direct peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, describing the development as "the result of joint efforts by the international community," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.
The direct talks, which took place in Istanbul last Friday and lasted nearly two hours, marked the first formal negotiations between the warring nations since Ukraine suspended discussions in 2022.
"China has supported the restoration of direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine from the very beginning and welcomes the recent resumption of direct negotiations," the Chinese Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti when asked to comment on the Istanbul talks.
The ministry emphasized that the renewed diplomatic engagement represents collective international efforts "to promote reconciliation and conduct negotiations, as well as to create conditions for peace."
This statement aligns with China's consistent diplomatic position of encouraging dialogue while refraining from directly criticizing Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The talks began after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct negotiations without preconditions on May 11, suggesting Istanbul as the venue to address the "root causes" of the conflict and potentially reach a ceasefire agreement.
Vladimir Medinsky, who heads the Russian delegation, announced following Friday's meeting that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to plans for a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 captives from each side.
He also confirmed that both sides would present their visions for a possible cease-fire.
Former Indian diplomat and international security expert Melkulangara Bhadrakumar told TASS that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spent three hours convincing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to approve the talks.
"Türkiye has again shown that it remains a significant factor of influence in the Ukrainian conflict," Bhadrakumar noted, adding that Ankara is interested in participating in the peace process as it "allows it to work closely with the United States."
The expert also suggested that Russia had scored a "diplomatic victory" by initiating direct talks without preconditions, an approach that "found understanding with Trump."
While China has expressed support for the renewed negotiations, the United States has urged swift progress in the talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an interview with CBS News that there is "no time to waste" in the peace process.
Former Indian diplomat and international security expert Melkulangara Bhadrakumar told Russian media outlet TASS that Russia had scored a "diplomatic victory" by initiating the talks, an approach that reportedly "found understanding with (U.S. President Donald) Trump."
China's statement comes as Beijing continues to position itself as a potential mediator in global conflicts while strengthening its strategic partnership with Russia on the international stage.
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