Wu Dahui, professor of international relations and expert on China-Russia ties at Tsinghua University. Photo: GT

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is at its most dangerous moment, and the more difficult the situation becomes, the more it is needed for Global South countries, such as China and Brazil, to play a greater role, a Chinese scholar said at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," which is held in Beijing on Saturday. 

Explaining why it is at the most dangerous moment, Wu Dahui, a professor of international relations and expert on China-Russia ties at Tsinghua University, said that Putin signed a decree in November ratifying the updated nuclear doctrine, sending a signal to the world: one more step forward could lead to the use of nuclear weapons, not just against Ukraine, but against US military and all NATO bases. 

Wu gave an example of a massive attack launched by Russian forces on Friday, one missile came within just 9 kilometers of the Polish border. As 87 percent of Western weapons are continuously flowing into Ukraine through three entry-ports in Poland, is there a possibility that Russia might one day use ballistic missiles to directly destroy these entry-ports? Wu believes that this possibility does exist.

On the other hand, there are significant differences between the US and Russia regarding how the Russia-Ukraine conflict would end. Wu noted that, based on the current situation, there is little possibility of a peace treaty being reached between Russia and Ukraine by the first half of 2025, or even by the end of 2025.

Wu said security is the absence of threats objectively and the absence of fear subjectively; and that peace is a process of reconciliation achieved through dialogue. Only in this way can there be lasting peace. 

China is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and can only do its best within its capacity. China has proposed the "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis" and has reached consensus with Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The Chinese value harmony and have always advocated for peace and dialogue. The more difficult the situation, the more needed it is for Global South countries, including China and Brazil, to play a greater role, said Wu. 

Global Times