China calls for Russo-Ukrainian peace talks as war's 1-year mark arrives

China called for a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict this week and for the start of peace negotiations as the war's one-year anniversary approaches Friday.

Beijing unveiled its proposals as part of a 12-point plan to end the conflict that would also see the end of Western sanctions on Russia and a number of allowances for humanitarian relief, according to the New York Post.

The renewed call for peace comes in the wake of a diplomatic visit by top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi to Moscow and an anticipated visit from President Xi Jinping in the near future.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and Friday will mark the war's one-year anniversary. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously vowed that Russia would "gain the world's attention" on the war's anniversary.

"Our diplomacy will do everything to ensure that the anti-Russian sabbaths planned for the end of February — as if timed to coincide with the anniversary of the special military operation, both in New York and at other sites that the West is now actively working on together with the Kyiv regime — so that this will not turn out to be the only events that will gain the world's attention," he said earlier this month.

China's calls for peace come ahead of an anticipated Russian offensive seeking to break the gridlock around the city of Bakhmut, which has been under siege for months.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.