Key facts
- Norway wants China to use its ties to the Russian leadership to help bring about a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine.
- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere stated that China has the best and most direct access to the Russian leadership.
- Stoere noted that China's continued close partnership with Russia is a limitation on deeper cooperation between Europe and China.
- Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described dialogue with China on ending the war as constructive and promising.
- Norwegian officials said negotiations should start with a ceasefire based on the current front line in Ukraine.
Norway is calling on China to leverage its influence with Russia to help achieve a negotiated settlement for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere expressed this sentiment after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Oslo, stating that China possesses the most direct access to the Russian leadership and urging them to utilize this channel.
Stoere indicated that the continued close partnership between China and Russia presents a limitation on the potential for deeper cooperation between Europe and China as long as the war persists. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide had earlier described the dialogue with China regarding the conflict as constructive and promising, hinting at potential Chinese willingness to help bring Russia to the negotiating table.
Norwegian officials also suggested that negotiations should commence without preconditions, beginning with a ceasefire based on the current front lines in Ukraine, which they consider a significant concession from Ukraine's side. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump commented that a resolution to the war is nearing, and he intends to discuss Ukraine during talks at a NATO summit in Turkey.