"Ukraine Peace Talks May Be Held as Early as Next Month"

A peace conference to discuss ways to end the Ukraine war is expected to be held as early as next month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th (local time), German local media reported that following the Ukraine peace meeting held in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 24th-25th, an official peace conference could take place as early as July.

At the Copenhagen meeting, representatives from the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union (EU), as well as India, South Africa, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia attended. From the United States, Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, participated via video conference. China was invited but did not attend the meeting.

Before the peace conference, Ukraine sought agreement on principles that would form the basis for a ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented 10 items last November as conditions for peace negotiations: nuclear safety, food security, energy security, prisoner release, adherence to the UN Charter, withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, restoration of justice, addressing environmental destruction, prevention of escalation, and consolidation of the ceasefire.

Furthermore, he argued that to establish a peace regime with Russia, the 1991 borders, when the former Soviet Union became independent, must be restored. Ukraine insists that Russia must return the Crimean Peninsula, annexed in 2014, as well as the four regions newly occupied through the February invasion?Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces), Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson?in order to agree to a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, on the 27th, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to questions at a regular briefing regarding reports of China’s attendance at a secret meeting and the July peace conference by stating, "China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear," adding, "The core is to advocate peace, promote dialogue, and seek a political resolution to the crisis." He further said, "China hopes to continue playing a constructive role with the international community in easing the situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.