China’s President Xi Jinping spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time on Wednesday amid the ongoing Ukraine war for the past 14 months. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping talked to Zelensky about the possibility of ending the war.
Zelenskyy described the one-hour telephone conversation as worthwhile. Zelenskyy has signaled a move forward after talks with the leader of Russia’s strongest ally. He has appointed the ambassador of Ukraine to China with the immediate effect of his trusted former cabinet minister.
It is believed that he will establish better coordination in efforts to establish peace. During the conversation, Chin Fing talked about sending a special envoy to Kiev to prepare the background for the peace talks. After talks in Ukraine, this special envoy may also go to Russia. It is noteworthy that China presented a 12-point peace plan for a ceasefire in February.
After this, President Xi Jinping visited Russia. During this time, only after his talks with the Russian President, the conditions for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine have been established. Xi Jinping has said that he is trying to hold peace talks and a ceasefire as soon as possible. As responsible members of the Security Council, we will fulfill our responsibilities and not do anything that would add fuel to the fire.
Zelensky said in his post on Telegram that Ukraine is interested in peace, but it will not give up its land in the agreement. He is ready for a ceasefire in 1991 on the condition that Ukraine gets back the land it got after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It is known that through this, Ukraine is stipulating the return of Crimea, which was handed over in 2014.
Amid rising tensions between Russia and the West, three Russian Air Force planes flying over the Baltic Sea were intercepted by German and British Air Force fighter jets on Wednesday. The German Air Force has tweeted that two Russian Su-27 and one Il-20 aircraft were flying over the Baltic Sea without giving a transponder signal, and then they tried to stop them.
The White House has welcomed the news that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, but expressed caution about whether the call could lead to “some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan”.
“We welcome the news that there was a phone call between President Xi and President Zelensky. We think that’s a good thing. We’ve been saying for quite some time that we believe it’s important for President Xi and PRC officials to avail themselves of the Ukrainian perspective on this illegal and unprovoked invasion by Russia,” Kirby said.
“Whether that’s gonna lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement or plan or proposal, I just don’t think we know that right now,” Kirby added.
Kirby stated that if China can help Ukraine in reaching a peace agreement, it has to be on Zelenskyy’s terms, saying that such an agreement won’t be “sustainable or credible unless the Ukrainians and President Zelensky personally is invested and supportive of it”.
Kirby said the White House had no prior information that a call between Xi and Zelensky would take place, adding “nor would we necessarily expect to [be given such information – ed.]”.
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