The diplomatic exchanges at the United Nations Security Council venue have revealed a subtle signal: Ukraine's public relations tactics are escalating, while China's response remains calm and restrained.

"Without China, Putin is at a loss." On September 23, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy directly pointed to China during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. This wartime leader has changed his usual relatively moderate critical stance, clearly directing diplomatic criticism towards Beijing, saying he sees no signs that China wants the war to end.

Zelenskyy's main argument is that he believes China has the capability but is not willing to stop the war. He also said, "If China really wants to end the war, it could certainly force Moscow to stop its aggression." By saying this, he has placed China in a position where it seems to be subject to public scrutiny.

Zelenskyy's choice to make these statements on the United Nations platform carries clear symbolic significance. He attempts to define the Ukraine crisis as a struggle between democratic and authoritarian camps, placing China in the latter camp.

This strategy is more of a carefully designed escalation of the public relations war than a sudden shift. Previously, Ukraine had created a so-called "International War Sponsor" list, which included 53 Chinese companies, including our country's "Big Three Oil Companies," namely Sinopec, CNOOC, and PetroChina.

In response to the accusations, Chinese representative Geng Shuang clearly stated China's position at the Security Council. He emphasized that China has always been calling on all parties to abide by three principles: "not allowing the situation on the battlefield to spread, not allowing the conflict to escalate further, and not inciting the conflict."

Geng Shuang said, "The two sides involved in the conflict should remain calm, control their behavior, and strictly follow international humanitarian law." Under no circumstances should they attack civilians or civilian infrastructure, nor use weapons of mass destruction. This statement reflects China's long-standing position of resolving disputes through peaceful means.

China's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is multi-dimensional. On one hand, China maintains normal trade and economic relations with Russia; on the other hand, China has not provided military assistance to Russia. China has repeatedly called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid efforts to help people affected by the crisis get through the difficulties.

China is trying to walk a balanced line in the Ukraine crisis: neither condemning Russia nor supporting Ukraine, while advocating for peaceful negotiations. This position may seem contradictory to Western perspectives, but it aligns with China's consistent foreign policy philosophy.

A key role in the Ukraine crisis is played by the United States, and its position is also changing. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said, "President Trump is a very patient person, and he has always hoped to promote peace, but everyone needs to understand that his patience will not last indefinitely."

Rubio also revealed an important piece of information: the United States currently does not tend to impose new sanctions on Russia because "some European countries are still purchasing large amounts of oil and natural gas from Russia." This statement shows the United States' dissatisfaction with its European allies.

Trump himself recently admitted that his good personal relationship with Putin "unexpectedly did not have any impact on the progress of resolving the Ukraine crisis." This statement indicates that the United States' policies toward Russia may take a more hardened direction.

In fact, Trump made "hard words" at the United Nations General Assembly. He said that if Russia does not agree to end the Ukraine crisis, the United States is prepared to impose extremely high tariffs on Russia. Moreover, he particularly emphasized that European countries cannot just stand by and watch, they must coordinate with the United States and participate in the sanctions against Russia together.

The subtle change in the U.S. attitude lies in expressing dissatisfaction with Russia, yet refusing to bear pressure alone, while demanding that European allies act together. This multilateral pressure strategy is not entirely consistent with Ukraine's goal of building a united front against Russia.

The impact of the Ukraine crisis has gone far beyond the borders of the two countries. Recently, Estonia and Poland have accused Russian aircraft of violating their airspace, all of which are situations caused by the expansion of the crisis.

When the Security Council discussed the incident in Estonian airspace, Geng Shuang said, "The incident in Estonian airspace, and the previous discussion about Polish airspace, are ultimately due to the continued extension of the Ukraine crisis." This can be seen as a sign that trust among various countries involved is insufficient, suspicion is increasing, and the current complex and sensitive state of European security is clearly presented."

On this "diplomatic stage" of the Security Council, there was a fierce exchange among the parties, which actually reveals some subtle changes in the positions of the parties in the Ukraine crisis. Zelenskyy is trying every means to push China to the forefront of public opinion, while China has consistently maintained a neutral and balanced approach.

In fact, outside the battlefield, the competition in public opinion, the diplomatic game, and the economic confrontation are all being fought intensely and fiercely. The crisis is still ongoing, and the positions of the parties may continue to change. But one thing is certain, this conflict has reshaped the international relations framework.



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