Norway urges China to use Russia ties to advance Ukraine peace talks

Norway has urged China to leverage its close ties with Russia to help bring about a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Monday, July 6, highlighting Beijing’s potential role in advancing peace efforts and improving relations with Europe.

“China is probably the country with the best and most direct access to the Russian leadership. We expect, hope and strongly urge China to use that channel,” Stoere told reporters in Oslo after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He said Ukraine was the central focus of their talks.

Stoere added that the conflict remains a key obstacle to closer Europe-China relations. “There is a potential for deeper cooperation between Europe and China, but as long as this war goes on and China is a close partner of Russia, that is a limitation on that opportunity,” he said.

Earlier, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described discussions with China on ending the war as “constructive and promising,” though he stopped short of confirming any concrete commitments from Beijing.

“I’m not a spokesperson for China. I’m not going to quote them, but there are some hints in what they say,” Eide said when asked whether China had indicated it would help to bring Russia to the negotiating table.

Norwegian officials said any negotiations should begin without preconditions, starting with a ceasefire based on the current front line in Ukraine. Stoere described such a move as a significant compromise for Kyiv.

“That is, in itself, a major concession from Ukraine’s side. It is inside their territory,” he said.

Wang Yi’s visit to Norway followed stops in Denmark, Sweden and Finland as part of a broader European tour.

However, China’s official readout of the Oslo meeting made no reference to Russia or Ukraine, instead emphasising cooperation in trade and green technology. According to a statement published by state news agency Xinhua, Wang said China aims to work with Norway to “promote the construction of a more just and reasonable governance system.”

Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that a resolution to the war in Ukraine is “getting closer than people realise,” adding that the issue would be discussed during talks in Turkey later this week at a NATO summit.

By Tamilla Hasanova