China is ‘unwaveringly’ committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, says Kuleba

China remains “unwaveringly” committed to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on July 24 after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Guangzhou.

According to the Ukrainian delegation, Kuleba and Wang spoke for more than three hours. The meeting marks Kuleba’s first visit to China since the beginning of the large-scale war in Russia.

“China has steadfastly reaffirmed its respect for the principle of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Kuleba said said in a video post on Instagram.

“My Chinese colleague has made it clear that he agrees that we do not need the illusion of peace, but a just and lasting peace.”

Kuleba said that as long as China continues to uphold the dual principles of Ukrainian sovereignty and lasting peace, “we can have any kind of talks and look for any kind of solutions.”

China has positioned itself as neutral in the Russo-Ukrainian war, but at the same time deepened economic ties with Moscow. It has also become Russia’s main source dual-use goodswhich will allow the Russian defense industry to supply equipment it can use in attacks on Ukraine.

In his speech after the talks in Guangzhou, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening speech on July 24 that China promised not to supply Chinese products. Russia with weapons and expressed his support for Ukrainian sovereignty.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, during the meeting, Kuleba confirmed that Kiev is ready to conduct peace negotiations when Moscow is “ready to negotiate in good faith.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also acknowledged that “conditions and timing are not yet ripe” for ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, but said it was willing to play “a constructive role” in peace efforts.

Kuleba said that during the talks he stressed the importance of avoiding temporary solutions and ultimatums in future peace negotiations.

“Ukraine will never give an inch if someone, regardless of where he comes from, tries to address us in the language of ultimatums,” he said.

55% of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions to achieve peace, poll shows

When asked about possible acceptable terms for peace, the largest number of respondents (62%) said that a situation in which Ukraine gets back all occupied territories and becomes a member of the EU, but refuses to join NATO, would receive the broadest support.