According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources close to decision-making processes within the Chinese government, the recent conflict between Iran and Israel has heightened Beijing’s interest in Russia’s Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project.

The report indicated that Beijing, increasingly concerned about the reliability of oil and natural gas supplies from the Middle East, is exploring alternative energy sources.

Approximately one-third of China’s imported natural gas is supplied as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. These shipments traverse the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that Iran has previously threatened to close. Furthermore, private Chinese refineries have reportedly become increasingly reliant on inexpensive Iranian oil in recent years.

According to analyst data, 90% of Iran’s oil exports are directed to China, despite US sanctions. Following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, US President Donald Trump stated, “Now China can continue to buy oil from Iran. I hope they buy a lot from the US as well.”

Price: The biggest hurdle in negotiations

Mid-month, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak affirmed the ongoing relevance and importance of the Power of Siberia 2 project within the framework of energy cooperation with China, in a statement to Vedomosti daily.

Design work for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline commenced in 2020. The pipeline is planned to have a total length of approximately 6,700 kilometers, with 2,700 kilometers of this route passing through Russian territory.

However, Financial Times reported that the gas price proposed by China for future contracts has not satisfied the Russian side. According to the report, Beijing aims to purchase gas at a price nearly equivalent to Russia’s domestic market cost.

In response to these claims, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Beijing is prepared to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the Primakov Readings international forum, stated that the shifting approaches of Western leaders regarding Ukraine reflect the failure of their initial plans.

Lavrov noted that Moscow will wait for proposals from the West to mend relations, while emphasizing that it is still too early to make definitive comments on the permanence of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

The West’s slogans have evolved from ‘strategic defeat’ to unconditional ceasefire

Lavrov recalled that at the beginning of the military conflict, the West was “hysterically shouting” about the need to inflict a “strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.”

He noted that this slogan eventually changed to phrases like “Russia must not win in Ukraine,” and summarized the current situation as follows:

“Now, they are demanding, requesting, and even begging for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. This is the very thing that Volodymyr Zelenskyy categorically rejected a few years ago when he was living and working under the banner of a strategic defeat on the battlefield.”

The minister observed that the fiasco of the West’s strategy and tactics is evident, but “Europe is still trying.”

Europe seeks negotiations

In May, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that European countries wish to be represented in potential Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul, following a proposed 30-day ceasefire by Kyiv and its allies.

Barrot stated that if Moscow refuses to cease fire, they expect the US and the European Union to increase pressure on Russia and impose extensive sanctions.

In contrast, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly avoided new anti-Russian sanctions, explaining that he did not want to jeopardize peace talks he believed were close to an agreement.

On June 20, following comments from Senator Lindsey Graham during his visit to Ukraine about his intention to advance a bill imposing a 500% secondary tariff on Russian energy sources, Trump warned that such statements should be chosen more carefully.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on June 10 that there was no common ground for future agreements with Europe. Peskov attributed this to Europe being “focused on war for now” and showing no signs of seeking common ground with Russia.

‘Let them come with proposals when they realize their mistakes’

Lavrov also expressed that Russia expects proposals from Western countries to rebuild relations once the current “international arrogance” subsides.

Arguing that many countries have severed ties with Russia to the detriment of their own people, suffering enormous financial and reputational losses, Lavrov stated, “Let them come to us when they realize their mistakes and present their proposals, and we will decide based on our own interests.”

‘Too early to speak on the Iran-Israel ceasefire’

Addressing developments in the Middle East, Lavrov said it would be premature at this stage to draw final conclusions about the stability of the ceasefire reached between Iran and Israel.

Citing reports that the US persuaded Israel to agree to the ceasefire, with Qatar playing a similar role in negotiations with Tehran, Lavrov highlighted that news of rocket attacks from both sides continued to emerge after the ceasefire was declared.

“It is very difficult to form a complete picture of what is happening right now; the information is fragmented. We should not make hasty assessments,” Lavrov remarked.

The minister affirmed that Moscow supports any steps aimed at de-escalation and hopes for a long-term ceasefire, adding, “But we are for peace.”

On June 24, at 08:08 Turkish time, US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire between Iran and Israel had come into effect.

Before this announcement, Trump had stated that the parties had reached a “full agreement for a full ceasefire.” Iranian media also confirmed the ceasefire had taken effect.

However, at 10:58 Israel time, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Iran had violated the ceasefire agreement by launching two ballistic missiles.

Katz declared that he had instructed the Israeli army to “respond decisively to Iran’s ceasefire violation with intense strikes on regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, described the attacks on Iran as “unprovoked aggression with no justification or basis.” In response, Araghchi thanked Russia for its condemnation, stating that the United States and Israel are responsible for the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin emphasized that Moscow is making efforts to assist the Iranian people. “We have long-standing, good, and reliable relations with Iran,” Putin remarked during the meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi expressed his gratitude to Russia “for its resolute condemnation of the actions of Israel and the US.” Stating that Russia is “on the right side,” Araghchi attributed the escalation of tensions in the Middle East to the actions of the US and Israel against Iran’s nuclear facilities. He noted that the Tehran administration considers the actions of the US and Israel on Iranian territory to be illegitimate, and therefore, Iran has the right to defend itself.

Araghchi also highlighted that Russia has always been a partner for Iran in the field of peaceful nuclear energy. He added that Moscow has played a positive role in negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.

During the meeting, Putin conveyed his best wishes to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Araghchi reciprocated with similar wishes on behalf of the Iranian leadership.

The Iran-Israel conflict escalated on June 13 when Israel launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to initiate retaliatory strikes. On June 22, the US struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Trump warned that new attacks would follow if Tehran did not surrender.

Following the attacks, Russia, China, and Pakistan submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council condemning the aggression against Iran.

On June 20, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi met in Geneva with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Although the parties agreed to continue dialogue after the meeting, media reports indicated that no concrete results emerged from the discussions.