The Friends of Peace initiative, a group of 13 Global South nations, will promote objective and balanced opinions, creating conditions for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks under the UN framework, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Wang Yi stated that Russia and Ukraine nearly reached an agreement at the start of the conflict, but it ultimately failed. He stressed the importance of understanding this failure and urged the parties to engage in face-to-face discussions, seeking common ground and contributing to a new security architecture.
The Friends of Peace, open to additional like-minded nations, called for halting the conflict's spread, escalating hostilities, and the use of weapons of mass destruction. They also urged increased humanitarian aid to civilians.