On February 24, China released a 12-point “peaceful” plan for the “political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.” And Vladimir Putin told the Chinese President, during the latter’s visit to Moscow, that he is willing to discuss it.

In fact, according to her article Washington Post, the Chinese plan is not peaceful, but a list of good intentions and a way for China to place its pawns.

– The first point is the respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations, which include the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries.

The Kremlin has no problem accepting this point, since it considers the annexed territories of Ukraine to be part of Russian sovereignty.

– On the second point of its plan, China considers that the security of one country should not be sought at the expense of others and that the security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military coalitions. This is exactly the position the Kremlin had on NATO before it invaded Ukraine.

– In the third and fourth points, referring to the ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations, China takes on the role of mediator. But the positions of the two sides are irreconcilable. Moscow demands that Kiev accept the “new territorial reality” and Kiev demands a return to the pre-2022, if not pre-2014, situation.

– In the fifth and sixth points, China estimates that the humanitarian issues they should not be politicized and calls on warring parties not to attack civilians and civilian targets. This position is directly related to Moscow.

– In the seventh point, China requests that the two sides guarantee their security nuclear stations. Her concern mainly concerns the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, around which fierce clashes have been taking place since the beginning of the war.

– In the eighth point, China calls for no use of nuclear weapons. This appeal is addressed primarily to Russia and secondarily to NATO countries possessing nuclear weapons.

– On the ninth point, Beijing is asking for the agreement to be extended cereals of the Black Sea, which has already been achieved.

– The tenth point points directly towards the Westsince it states that “the unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the problem.” China fears that if it becomes more actively involved in the conflict, it may also face sanctions.

– In the eleventh point, China calls for supporting the existing global economic system and not using the global economy for political purposes.

– In the twelfth point, finally, China seeks to highlight its role as a major world power.

While Ukraine is trying to mobilize its allies to achieve its goals, Beijing is trying to increase its weight on the world chessboard.