Ukraine-China meeting would be 'desirable', says President Zelensky | War in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in favor of a meeting with China, which has been seeking for some weeks to play a mediating role in the Ukrainian conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he was unaware of the existence of a Chinese plan to end the war in Ukraine, while saying he was in favor of a meeting between representatives of his country. and Beijing, on the eve of the first anniversary of the conflict.
Close to Russia, with which it concluded an unlimited partnership last year, China has made know that she intended to unveil in a document her proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine through political means, taking into account concerns about territorial integrity, sovereignty and security.
Asked during a press briefing about the possibility of a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Volodymyr Zelensky replied: We would like to meet China. Today is in the interest of Ukraine, he added alongside the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, who is visiting Kiev.
< p class="e-p">The Ukrainian president made the remarks as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that a visit by Xi Jinping to Moscow was scheduled.
Xi Jinping is due to deliver a speech on Friday of peace, a year after the launch of the Russian offensive, on February 24, 2022.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that he only heard, through diplomats Ukrainians, general things about China's proposals for a way out of the conflict, but added that it was encouraging that Beijing was considering mediating for peace.
“The more countries, especially the important, influential ones, will think of ways to end the war in Ukraine , respecting our sovereignty, with a just peace, the sooner it will happen.
—Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this week that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed him on some points of Beijing's proposal during a meeting in New York. .
Without having been able to consult the document, it is impossible for Kiev to draw any conclusions, he added.
Visiting Moscow this week, where he met with Vladimir Putin and with the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, Wang Yi did not mention the China project, according to the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Westerners appear measured in the face of China's position, between the latter's plan to achieve peace and the visit of Wang Yi in Moscow, as the United States has expressed concern that Beijing may decide to deliver arms to Russia.
Russia's increased dependence on China, due to notably vast Western sanctions aimed at it following the invasion of Ukraine, gives Beijing a potential almost unrivaled influence over Moscow.
