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China has come out in support of the recent talks between the US and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Some shit you should know before you read: Throughout the war in Ukraine, some have criticized China for allegedly aiding Russia’s military efforts, pointing to evidence of Chinese companies selling dual-use goods to Moscow. Under the Biden administration, these sales prompted US sanctions against Chinese entities accused of supporting Russia’s war machine. Despite the accusations, China has consistently maintained that it is neutral and does not take sides in the war.

What’s going on now: In a rare show of support for US-Russia diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi endorsed the recent talks between the US and Russia. Wang stated that “China supports all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent consensus reached by the United States and Russia,” stressing their hope for “a sustainable and lasting solution that takes into account each other’s concerns.” He advocated for dialogue over confrontation, arguing that “peace talks are always better than war” and stressed China’s willingness to play “a constructive role” in the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

The comments follow talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which marked a significant shift in US-Russia relations. This was the first high-level dialogue between the two countries since the start of the war in Ukraine. Although no concrete agreements were reached, both sides described the discussions as “positive, upbeat, and solution-based.” They also agreed to restore embassy staffing and called it a “major first step” in fixing relations.

This all comes as Russia and China have been steadily strengthening their relationship throughout the war in Ukraine, deepening political, economic, and military ties. The two countries have repeatedly affirmed their “strategic partnership,” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin vowing to improve cooperation and declaring a relationship with “no limits” just before the invasion of Ukraine.