China can act as a mediator in achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia only if it adheres to the position regarding the withdrawal of occupation troops from the entire territory of our country.

 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said this in an interview with the Korean publication Chosun Ilbo.

 According to the president, China is trying to walk a tightrope somewhere outside, between the West and Russia.

 "It is true that China does not directly support Ukraine's position. Regarding China's own peace initiative, we have made it clear that we appreciate any efforts of other countries, but our own peace formula, our initiative is fundamental. Because this war began in Ukraine continues here," he said.

 Zelenskyi believes that China can be useful for achieving peace only if it takes a clear and firm position that Russian troops must withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine.

 "Peace formula" of China

 China declared its intention to act as a peacemaker and published the so-called "peace plan" for the end of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, which consists of 12 points. Beijing called for a ceasefire and peace talks, but did not mention the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

 Ukraine, Europe, and the United States criticized China's "peace initiatives", recalling ties with the Russian Federation. After that, Zelenskyi held telephone talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and then Beijing sent its special representative to Ukraine.

 The media reported that during a tour of Europe, China's special representative Li Hui proposed to hand over the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied these data.

 Ukrainian formula for peace

 President Zelenskyi's peace formula consists of guarantees of radiation, nuclear, food and energy security, as well as the withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from the occupied territories. He represented it at the G20 summit in November 2022.