In the latest development surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, China has stated that it would be "hard to meet" the requests for discussions on the ongoing conflict. The announcement came from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday, with spokesperson Mao Ning citing issues with the arrangements that appear to indicate Beijing's strong pro-Moscow position.

According to Mao, China's hopes for the meeting seem unlikely to be fulfilled. "There is still a clear gap between the meeting arrangements and the demands of the Chinese side, as well as the general expectations of the international community," Mao expressed. Despite not revealing specific details, Mao mentioned that China has informed the parties involved about its considerations and concerns and will continue to stay connected with all concerned parties.

Although claiming to be neutral in the conflict, China has shown significant support for Russia, notably by hosting President Vladimir Putin on a state visit. In an interview released on Wednesday, Putin praised his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, describing their communication as "respectful, friendly, open, and business-like."

Putin further commended China's peace plan for Ukraine, which has faced widespread criticism due to its failure to include a requirement for Russia to return seized land. The plan has been disregarded by many, including Switzerland, which recently proposed talks aimed at ending the war. However, the talks have yet to receive endorsement from either Moscow or Kyiv.

The Russia-Ukraine war was ignited by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and ongoing instability in the region.

As the international community awaits further developments, the impasse in meeting calls for talks between China and other involved parties raises questions about the potential for diplomatic resolutions to the devastating war.