President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed some elements of a Chinese proposal for a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but said only the country where a war is being fought should be the initiator of a peace plan.

“I think it’s correct to think that if there are thoughts that, in one way or another, correspond with respect for international law, to territorial integrity... let’s work with China on this point,” he said during a news conference in Kyiv.

“Why not?”

Zelensky, who said he believed China did not offer a concrete plan but some “thoughts”, also said there were parts he disagreed with.

He urged Beijing not to provide Moscow with arms, but added that it was promising that China — a Russian ally — was considering brokering peace.

“Our task is to gather everyone to isolate one,” he said, speaking on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Blinken warning

US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned the UN Security Council on Friday that it should not be fooled by calls for a temporary or unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, saying a “just and durable” peace cannot allow Russia torest and re-arm.

The council met to mark the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which was launched on February 24 last year.

Blinken’s warning to the council came just hours after China called for a comprehensive ceasefire as part of a 12- point plan on the war that was largely a reiteration of its approach since Russia launched what it calls a “special military operation”.

“Any peace that legitimises Russia’s seizure of land by force will weaken the (UN)Charter and send a message to would-be aggressors everywhere that they can invade countries and get away with it,” Blinken said.