China's 12-Point Plan to End Ukraine War Includes Halting Russian Sanctions

China has called for a cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia, according to a proposal released by its foreign ministry Thursday evening. The 12-point plan, which was issued at 9 a.m. Friday local time, comes after nearly a year of China serving as one of Moscow's closest allies while attempting to play neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war. Chinese President Xi Jinping also plans to deliver a "peace speech" before the United Nations on Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.

The peace proposal includes plans to uphold the sovereignty of both forces, abandon a "Cold War mentality" and ensure that nuclear power plants are kept safely. China is also calling for the stop of all "unilateral sanctions," a direct hit at the sanctions imposed by the United States and 37 other allies following the Russian invasion.

"Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the issue; they only create new problems," read the proposal. "China opposes unilateral sanctions unauthorized by the UN Security Council. Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and 'long-arm jurisdiction' against other countries, so as to do their share in deescalating the Ukraine crisis and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and better the lives of their people."

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