Polish FM suggests Turkey and China as potential mediators, if US exits

Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, stated that other nations such as Turkey or China could replace the US in ongoing negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

This, he said, would happen, in the event the United States decides to withdraw from the negotiations.

He stated that Turkey or China are capable mediators.

Sikorski made these remarks during a press briefing following a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers held in Warsaw.

According to a report by European Pravda, he expressed his hope that the United States would remain successful in its current efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“I hope the U.S. will achieve positive results in its mediation efforts,” Sikorski remarked.

“But should those efforts prove ineffective, there are other countries that could potentially assume the role.”

He pointed to Turkey and China as potential alternatives.

“Turkey has kept open lines of communication with both sides,” he noted. “

And more significantly, the People’s Republic of China, according to him, holds substantial influence.

He added that it is perhaps the only nation with enough leverage to pressure President Vladimir Putin into meaningful negotiations and encourage him to moderate his demands.

Sikorski’s comments reflect a growing concern about the stalled progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Reports suggest the United States is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the lack of headway.

On April 26, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be “stringing him along” in negotiations.

Adding to this sentiment, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in a May 8 interview with Fox News that the United States would consider withdrawing from the negotiation process entirely.

This, Vance said would happen, if no signs of progress were evident from the Russian side.

“We are not going to stay at the table indefinitely if there is no movement toward a resolution,” Vance stated.

In the context of the ongoing war, Turkey has consistently positioned itself as a potential peace broker.

Maintaining both economic and diplomatic ties with Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has managed to preserve its influence across both nations.

It has reportedly used this unique position to facilitate key efforts such as organizing talks and overseeing grain export agreements through the Black Sea corridor.

Ankara has also expressed openness to monitoring any future ceasefire agreements.

China, too, has sought to act as a mediator. However, its involvement has drawn criticism from Western nations.

While offering itself as a potential peacemaker, China has simultaneously criticized the United States and its allies.

It accused them of escalating the conflict by supplying military aid to Ukraine.

NATO has gone so far as to describe China as a “decisive enabler” of Russian aggression due to its continued support for Moscow.

Concerns about China’s role have intensified following a claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On April 17, Zelensky publicly stated that China has been providing weapons to the Russian military.

This marked the first official acknowledgment from Kyiv that Beijing is materially supporting Russia’s military operations in the conflict.

Despite the statement by Vice President Vance suggesting a possible U.S. withdrawal from negotiations, President Trump appeared to offer a different tone just hours later.

Following a phone conversation with President Zelensky, Trump reiterated his commitment to achieving a peace agreement.

In a post on Truth Social on May 8, Trump declared his intention to continue pursuing peace between the two warring nations, in collaboration with European allies.

“As President, I remain firmly committed to brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote.

“It will be a lasting peace, secured with the cooperation of our European partners,” he added.

Trump further stated that any peace deal must include a ceasefire agreement that both countries are obligated to honor.

Poland“If such a ceasefire is violated, the U.S. and its allies will respond by imposing additional sanctions on the offending party,” he concluded

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