As the Ukraine crisis continues to escalate, with Moscow and Kyiv entrenched in their positions, the road to a peaceful resolution seems far away.

Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Ukraine, has said that there remained a “significant gap” between Moscow and Kyiv on peace talks to end the more than two-year-long war.

Briefing media and diplomats in Beijing after his latest trip to Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany and Poland, Li said Kyiv and Moscow remained far apart.

Nonetheless, he emphasized that both recognised talks were the best way to resolve the crisis.

Li Hui’s acknowledgment of the “significant gap” between Moscow and Kyiv underscores the complexity of the situation.

The entrenched positions of the conflicting parties present a formidable challenge to achieving a negotiated settlement.

However, the recognition on both sides that talks are the best means to resolve the crisis is a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of conflict.

It reflects a shared understanding that the path to peace lies through diplomacy rather than further bloodshed.

“At the end, they all agree that the war must be resolved through negotiations rather than guns,” Li said.

All parties, he said, “recognise the danger of the current situation continuing to deteriorate.”

“And they all agree with China’s call for the situation to cool down,” he added, saying they “expect China to play a more constructive role”.

Li told reporters that China stood “with open arms” to accept anything conducive to de-escalation and negotiation.

China’s willingness to accept anything conducive to de-escalation and negotiation reflects its pragmatic approach to conflict resolution.

By keeping its options open and demonstrating flexibility, China signals its readiness to engage constructively with all stakeholders in pursuit of a peaceful settlement. This stance underscores China’s commitment to upholding the principles of diplomacy and dialogue as the cornerstones of international relations.

Kyiv has expressed hope that Beijing will attend a peace conference it is organising in Switzerland in a few weeks to discuss its proposals for a negotiated peace.

Moscow has not been invited to the event and has said the effort will fail without its participation.

China Advocates Conference Recognised By Both Parties

Li Hui said that China has communicated with Switzerland on a potential peace talk conference, and that any peace talks should be recognized by both Ukraine and Russia.

He divulged that China did not participate in several peace conferences to resolve the conflict because only one of the major parties was invited.

He added that such conferences lacked representation and they can not achieve significant results.

The Chinese diplomat also said that Moscow expressed appreciation for China’s round of global diplomacy, adding that Russia believes “the crisis ultimately needs to be resolved through negotiation.”

Beijing has sought to position itself as a mediator in the conflict, releasing its own 12-point plan for a “political settlement” and holding several rounds of talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan, first announced in November 2022, includes a demand that Russia withdraws all its troops from Ukrainian territory and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Moscow currently occupies about 17 percent of Ukraine.

It has declared the annexation of four regions of Ukraine in the south and east, in addition to Crimea, which it invaded and annexed in 2014.

While China insists that it remains neutral, its attempts to mediate the conflict have often been met with skepticism, given Beijing’s close ties with Moscow.

The country has consistently steered clear of condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.