There was no real progress made toward ending the conflict in Ukraine during Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Russia, despite China characterizing the trip as one "of friendship, cooperation, and peace," the AP reports. "What China has done boils down to one word, that is, to promote peace talks," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing Wednesday, claiming China remains neutral in the conflict and, unlike the US, has not "taken the opportunity to profit itself." Yet peace looks as far off as ever. More:
- Peace proposal: The US is "fanning the flames" of conflict in providing defensive weapons to Ukraine to its own benefit, Wang said, per the AP. Meanwhile, China has put forth a 12-point peace proposal calling for a ceasefire, though it makes no mention of a Russian withdrawal or the return of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia.