Sources say Beijing has not openly criticized the Peace Summit, to be held in Switzerland on June 15-16, and nor has it persuaded states not to attend. However, at the same time, China believes the event will allegedly continue the war in Ukraine.

The news agency's sources add that China has been telling Western countries that many developing states share this view. It is noted that one diplomat called such actions by Beijing a "covert boycott" of the upcoming peace summit, as sources say the country has stepped up outreach efforts through meetings with foreign officials and messages to foreign missions as the event approaches.

Diplomats say it is known that special Chinese representative Li Hui visited Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last month and met with representatives of developing countries at their embassies in Beijing.

Emphasis added: When China explains its non-attendance at the Peace Summit in Switzerland, it is trying to engage developing states in an alternative 6-point "peace plan". China presented it together with Brazil in May.

"The proposal calls for an international peace conference 'at an appropriate time that both Russia and Ukraine recognize, with equal participation of all parties, as well as an honest discussion of all peace plans'," Reuters adds.

Peace Summit: details and features of the event

On Feb. 26, Switzerland announced its intention to host a peace summit in Ukraine by summer.

On March 18, Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shi-ting said that China was considering participating in a peace summit organized by Switzerland at the request of Ukraine.

On May 2, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that Russia should attend the peace summit because "a peace process without Russia is unthinkable". However, Moscow was not invited to the event this time.

On May 31, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said her country would not attend the Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 because it was not endorsed by Russia.

On June 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of helping Russia diplomatically disrupt the summit, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said China and Russia were engaged in large-scale opposition to the Peace Summit.

It was later reported that the United States was encouraging China to attend the Global Peace Summit.

On June 12, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Sergei Nikiforov said that China was still unlikely to attend the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.