Recently, the United States and Russia have frequently sent positive signals regarding the Ukraine crisis. Does this mean that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is approaching an end? Why do the UK, France, and Germany use China as a bargaining chip to extort the United States?

According to Russian media, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service reported that the UK, France, and Germany are preparing to establish closer relations with China, using this as a "bargaining chip" against the US on the issue of the Ukraine peace agreement.

On December 17, during a regular press conference held by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Russian media asked the Chinese side for comments on this. In response, spokesperson Guo Jia Kun stated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis has always been clear and explicit. We support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis. We hope that all parties will reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement through dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.

Guo Jia Kun

Guo Jia Kun emphasized that China has always adhered to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and insists on developing relations and cooperation with countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. At the same time, we firmly safeguard our sovereignty, security, and development interests.

In summary, China's message is that it supports resolving the Ukraine crisis through political means, hoping for a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement that ensures long-term peace between Russia and Ukraine. However, China is an independent and autonomous major country and will never be anyone's pawn.

Actually, since French President Macron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited China successively, we already knew that Europe wanted China to exert influence, persuading Russia to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, thus avoiding a "peace agreement" that would benefit Russia and negatively impact Europe's security interests.

Macron

Conversely, if China can persuade Russia to stop the war, Europe would have a reason to pressure the United States to change the current peace agreement that favors Russia. Therefore, Russia's view is that the UK, France, and Germany plan to use China as a bargaining chip to extort the United States. From a logical perspective, this statement is not entirely inaccurate.

Looking in the long term, if German Chancellor Merkel and British Prime Minister Starmer successfully visit China, pressuring China to persuade Russia to stop the war will definitely be one of the key topics of their visits. In their eyes, China must be able to persuade Russia to stop the war.

The logic behind such statements lies in the Western narrative, which always views China as the biggest support for Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. As long as China is willing to pressure Russia, the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has lasted more than three years could immediately end, allowing Europe to force the United States to change its mind.

Sino-Russian Relations

The fact is that China is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has no ability to persuade Russia to stop the war. Moreover, China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. As an independent and autonomous major country, what Russia does has nothing to do with China.

Similarly, Europe needs to recognize the basic facts between Sino-Russian relations and the Ukraine crisis, as well as understand China's position of never being anyone's pawn. Guo Jia Kun has spoken clearly, stating that China has always adhered to an independent and peaceful foreign policy. This single reason alone is enough to make the entire Europe feel ashamed.

We know that in the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe actually had the initiative to control the situation, and was fully capable of resolving the crisis through dialogue with Russia. Instead, Europe chose to follow the stance of the Biden administration, handing over the initiative to the United States, which led to the deterioration of the situation to its current state.

European Union

Now, with the US and Russia pushing forward a peace agreement favorable to Russia, while excluding Europe, and Europe trying to rush to the table, it's like picking up a stone only to drop it on its own feet. Using China as a bargaining chip to extort the United States is a really bad move by Europe. China's independent and autonomous position has already determined that it will not be used by any country.

If Europe wants to get out of its current unappealing situation, the only way is to regain strategic autonomy, rather than fantasizing that other countries will show mercy and help Europe. It should be clear that international competition is not a children's game; being too naive will only lead to losses.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7584730399676072511/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.