The presidents’ phone call was the first since the Russian invasion. China urges Ukraine to cease fire.
President of China Xi Jinping has discussed by phone the president of Ukraine to Volodymyr Zelensky with for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The call was organized at the initiative of Ukraine. According to Zelenskyi, the telephone conversation was long and meaningful.
Zelenskyi said after the call that Ukraine has appointed an ambassador to China. In office to start By Pavel Ryabikin. He is currently the director of the Ministry of Strategic Industries.
– I believe that the phone call and the appointment of the ambassador will give a strong boost to our bilateral relations, President Zelenskyi said.
Ukraine has not had an ambassador in China for two years.
Xi: “We will not sit idly by”
Xi says he tried to promote peace talks and persuaded Ukraine to a ceasefire. China wants a ceasefire “as soon as possible”.
– Peace cannot be achieved if Ukraine hands over its territories to Russia, President Zelenskyi said.
China plans to send a peace delegation to Ukraine.
According to Xi, China is trying to hold negotiations with all parties in order to achieve peace.
– We are not going to sit idly by, but we also don’t want to add fuel to the flames or try to profit from the crisis, President Xi said.
China emphasizes that it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Xi has been criticized for the fact that China has made peace initiatives but has not discussed them with the Ukrainian leadership.
Sources: Reuters, AP, AFP
Added at 18:26 Zelensky’s comment that peace cannot be achieved if Ukraine were to give up its territories.