NSC Spox Kirby Raises Concerns Over Chinese-Brokered UKR Ceasefire

White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby has warned that a Chinese-brokered ceasefire in Ukraine, "would not lead to a just and lasting peace," following confirmation Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russia President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week.

• Finbarr Bermingham at SCMP reports: "EU diplomats in Beijing were briefed on Xi Jinping's trip to Moscow this morning [...] They were told that the purpose is to "try to bring peace..."
• According to Laura Rozen at Just Security, Kirby told reporters: "We also hope that President Xi will reach out to Ukrainian President Zelensky, because we continue to believe that it's very important that he hears from the Ukrainian side as well."
• But warned: "...we certainly want to express how concerned we would be by any proposals from the PRC that would... reflect only (the Russian position)."
• Kirby said yesterday that a ceasefire sounds "perfectly reasonable," but believes Russia would use it to "entrench its positions in Ukraine [...] so that they can then restart attacks at a time of their choosing," adding that "frankly, that's just not a step that we believe towards a just and durable peace.”