Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on Wednesday for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, achieving a long-standing goal of Kyiv that had been made public for months.
By appointing a former cabinet minister as Ukraine’s next ambassador to Beijing, Zelensky underscored the significance of the opportunity to forge stronger ties with Russia’s most powerful ally and described the hour-long phone call as “long and meaningful.”
According to Chinese official media, Xi promised Zelensky that China would send special envoys to Ukraine in order to hold negotiations with all parties interested in achieving peace.
In an evening video message, Zelensky stated that there was “an opportunity to use China’s political power to reinforce the principles and rules that peace should be built upon.”
According to him, “China and Ukraine, like the vast majority of people in the world, are equally interested in the strength of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Zelensky added that Xi had offered “words of support” for the agreement to continue exporting grain from China’s Black Sea ports. Moscow has stated that unless the West lowers barriers to Russian grain and fertiliser exports, the accord would not be extended past May 18.
The most influential leader to avoid condemning Russia’s incursion, Xi, paid a visit to Moscow last month. Since February, he has advocated a 12-point peace proposal that has been met with skepticism in the West but cautious approval in Kiev as a show of Chinese interest in putting an end to the conflict.
According to Chinese state media sources, Xi told Zelensky that China would prioritize advancing peace negotiations and work on a ceasefire as soon as feasible.
We won’t just watch things happen or add fuel to the fire, much less try to profit from them, said Xi, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible big power.
The White House acknowledged the call but stated that it was too early to determine whether it would result in a peace agreement.
According to Emmanuel Macron’s office, during a trip to Beijing earlier this month, he persuaded Xi to make the call with Zelensky.
NO PEACE TALKS ARE VISIBLE
The 14-month conflict is nearing a turning point as Ukraine readies to launch a counteroffensive against a Russian winter offensive that saw only marginal gains despite fierce combat.
There are no signs of peace talks as Kiev demands that Russia withdraw its soldiers and Moscow demands that Ukraine accept its claims to have taken seized land.
Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Wednesday that “peace cannot come at the cost of territorial compromises.”
“Within the borders of 1991, Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be reinstated.”
Ukrainian leaders have long pushed Beijing to use its clout in Russia to aid in putting an end to the conflict.
A “no limits” alliance pact was inked by Xi and Putin just weeks before Putin gave the order to invade.
Since then, China has opposed the sanctions imposed on Moscow but refrained from formally endorsing the invasion. China has also grown to be Russia’s largest trading partner, purchasing oil that is no longer able to be sold in Europe.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said after the call on Wednesday: “We note the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish a negotiation process.”
Although Beijing denies having any such plans, Washington has recently stated that it is concerned about China giving Russia ammunition or weapons.
China claims that because it has not chosen a side, it is in a good position to mediate.
Yu Jun, the deputy director of the Eurasian section of the foreign ministry, claimed that what China did to assist in resolving the Ukraine situation was legal.
The peace plan from China, according to Western nations, is too nebulous, offers no clear way out of the conflict, and may be used by Putin to push for a cease-fire that would leave his forces in charge of occupied territory while they reorganize.
