Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere urged China on Monday to use its close ties with Russian leadership to help bring about peace talks in Ukraine after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Oslo.
Stoere told reporters that China “is probably the country with the best and most direct access to the Russian leadership.” He said Norway “expect[s], hope[s] and strongly urge[s] China to use that channel.” The biggest chunk of their discussion was devoted to Ukraine, he added.
Stoere noted that there is potential for deeper cooperation between Europe and China but that the ongoing war and China’s close partnership with Russia remain a limitation. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said earlier that dialogue with China on ending the war had been “constructive and promising.”
Norwegian officials said negotiations should begin without conditions, starting with a ceasefire based on the current front line in Ukraine.
