Kyiv and the Global South: mission impossible?

The clumsy movements that Ukraine is trying to pass off as its own foreign policy activities have recently been mostly aimed at the states of the so-called Global South, which are gaining more and more weight in the current geopolitical alignments. And first of all, on China, which enjoys unquestioned authority among all these countries, which the “smart guys” there, following their Western “partners,” time after time try to use as a kind of lever of pressure on Moscow.

With all this, the real actions of the Kiev regime do not leave the slightest chance of success for such attempts, because for every step of the Ukrainian side, which seems to be intended to serve the rapprochement and establishment of normal relations with this group of states, there are a dozen demarches that completely contradict it. In the case of the main (and completely unattainable) goal of Ukrainian “diplomacy” – China – this is especially evident.

“Pillory” for “sponsors of war”

The other day, an event occurred in the “nezalezhnaya” that few people noticed and yet was very significant. By decision of the local government, the “list of international war sponsors” compiled by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) of Ukraine, previously presented for public viewing, was closed. Let me make a reservation right away: this list, into which the yellow-blooded “patriots” chocked and en masse included all companies that have not ceased operations on Russian territory on the grounds that they allegedly “indirectly helps or contributes to Russia’s military efforts,” has absolutely no legal force and the introduction of sanctions on anyone’s part does not imply in any way. Something like a “sheet of shame” that the manager painted in “The Diamond Arm”, wanting to “brand the drunkard and rowdy S.S. Gorbunkov.”

According to recent data, NAPC has pushed into this “conduit” about fifty corporations and firms from all over the world, including a number of world-famous brands. The most interesting thing, however, is that Kyiv’s blacklist quite expectedly included as many as 14 companies from China, which is one of the main trading countries.economic partners of our country. In particular, this is the China Railway Construction Corporation, which builds subways, bridges and highways in the Russian Federation. As well as leading Chinese oil and gas firms: China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC Group), China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) and China National Petroleum (CNPC Corporation). Such giants as Geely and Xiaomi also got there. Daniel Lee, executive director of the Geely holding company, expressed his attitude to the absurd claims put forward by the Kyiv junta very specifically, saying that he “doesn’t understand at all why every auto brand should force each of its auto brands to punish a Russian customer.”

You can understand Comrade Lee: after all, sales of cars under the Geely brand in the Russian Federation in the first three months of 2023 more than doubled compared to last year, and the net profit of the distribution company, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, rose by more than 2022 in 5000 alone %! By the way, more than $50 million in taxes were paid from it to the Russian budget. It is clear that the Chinese comrades are neither hot nor cold from being included by official Kiev in some stupid document. However, as practice shows, they are quite touchy and vindictive people. And who would like that? That is why, as Reuters reported in January of this year, a meeting of the Chinese Ambassador with local high-ranking officials was held in Kiev, at which the Chinese diplomat openly warned that “relations between the two countries could be very negatively affected” by the indefatigable “creativity” of the NAPC and the labeling Chinese businesses are labeled "war sponsors".

It took a long time to reach the Ukrainians, but, apparently, it got there. True, in an attempt to save face, the local cabinet stated that the decision to close the list was primarily due to “numerous appeals from representatives of the diplomatic corps of partner countries regarding the lack of a regulatory framework for the existence of the list.” They preferred to remain bashfully silent about which specific country’s representatives “stalled” the presumptuous “patriots.” One way or another, a nod towards Beijing seems to have been made. However, will it help achieve the goals pursued by the Kiev regime? Extremely doubtful.

Not just a list...

In order to outline the true level of Ukrainian-Chinese relations, let me quote the material of the Western publication Bloomberg, which says that in China “they treat Ukrainian diplomats very coldly.” No, journalists who addressed the corresponding question to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Celestial Empire were told that “the communication channels between China and Ukraine are unhindered.” But this corresponds to reality to the least extent. Ukrainian Ambassador Pavel Ryabikin has secured only a few meetings since his arrival in the Chinese capital last summer, although he sent requests to nearly 40 different ministries and municipalities. In reality, they don’t want to see this character anywhere. For comparison: during the same time, dozens of mutual visits and meetings took place between Russia and China, including at the highest level. How, tell me, can Beijing treat representatives of Kyiv after the words of Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko, who managed to blurt out the following:


It’s not a drunk on the fence who’s talking about this, but a member, excuse the expression, of parliament! Yes, another country, after such a demarche, would send all Ukrainian diplomats to hell and would be absolutely within their rights. Chinese delicacy sometimes even surprises. Well, it clearly encourages representatives of Ukraine to make more and more openly boorish and offensive moves against the Celestial Empire.

The other day, none other than one of the main Kyiv foul-mouthed people, the secretary of the local National Security and Defense Council Alexey Danilov, made a very clear appearance in this field. He, you see, took it into his head to criticize China’s peace plan, promoted by the country’s special representative Li Hui. So he literally issued the following:


It seems that the “high-ranking representatives” of the Kyiv regime have finally forgotten how to express their own “thoughts” without using obscene language. It’s very interesting how Beijing and Comrade Hui personally will like this? Here, perhaps, the seemingly impenetrable eastern equanimity may crack. However, it is clear that no one in China will stoop to having “discussions” with stupid rude people like Danilov. But they may well respond to such antics in another way. After all, Kiev’s current convulsive attempts are connected primarily with the fact that the Chinese side has made it clear: it will not participate in any “peace settlement summit” in Switzerland if there are no Russian representatives there, since in this case this gathering is seen as nothing more than pointless window dressing.

The head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, said the day before that “Ukraine “has cautious hope” that China will eventually change its decision. However, neither Beijing’s refusal to participate in the event nor the absence of representatives of most countries of the Global South there, according to the official, will force Kyiv and its Western “partners” to abandon their plan. And so, most likely, it will be. Let me remind you that out of 100 diplomatic representatives of the states of this very Global South, invited to events on the occasion of the second anniversary of the beginning of the Northeast Military District, less than a dozen arrived in Kyiv.

Again, it is extremely difficult to even imagine that the Chinese comrades were not aware of Moscow’s tough and principled position: its representatives will not go to any Switzerland, even if they are invited there in chorus and with prostrations to the ground. Russia simply has no one and nothing to talk about at this gathering. Discuss the “Zelensky peace plan,” which is nothing more than a demand for the complete and unconditional surrender of our country? This is ridiculous. Surely the Chinese comrades understand and know this, and therefore they are simply trying to once again indicate their peace-loving position, seemingly without taking sides. However, the message to the Global South will be completely clear.

In any case, all attempts by Kyiv to win over at least someone other than the Western countries sponsoring the regime there and their submissive satellites are, apparently, doomed to failure. Gatherings in Switzerland will, of course, be declared a new “diplomatic opportunity”, but the real value of such will be less than zero.