China to send peace talks delegation to Ukraine following a phone call between the two countries' leaders
President Volodymyr Zelensky said his meeting with President Xi Jinping was "long and meaningful"
The Chinese delegation will be headed by former Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui
China is preparing to send a peace talks delegation to Ukraine after the countries' leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Xi Jinping, held a phone call for the first time since Russia invaded Kyiv.
The two global leaders' talk came as Beijing has so far not criticized Moscow's continued aggression in Ukraine, which is considered to be one of its closest allies. Zelensky said that his meeting with Xi was "long and meaningful."
China's Special Envoy for Peace Talks
During the talks, the Chinese president's language seemed to underscore his country's close ties to Russia. While the Ukrainian president tailored his message to Beijing, he maintained a firm stance on territorial restoration.
The Chinese state news media released a summary of the call that allegedly did not mention Russia directly or use the word "war." Beijing's leader also reiterated past points that his government made, which was China's "core position" to "promote peace and talks," as per the New York Times.
The omission of talking about Russia during the call underscored how closely China was aligned with Moscow. It also highlights how difficult it would be for Beijing to cast itself as a credible peace mediator in the war between Kyiv and Moscow.
On the other hand, Zelensky, who has been seeking a direct conversation with Xi for some time, crafted a message for a particular audience. He sought to align that audience with his country's cause in defending against Russia.
Zelensky reiterated this during his first call with Xi following Russia's invasion: respect for territorial integrity. The Ukrainian president told his Chinese counterpart that no one desires peace more than the Ukrainian people themselves. However, he argued that such peace should be "just and sustainable."
Respecting Territorial Integrity
Following their conversation, Xi reportedly plans to send a special envoy to Ukraine and several other nations. He also argued that China has always been supportive of the "side of peace" throughout the conflict, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Chinese president told his Ukrainian counterpart that the delegation would be led by Beijing's special representative on Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui. The special envoy is meant to conduct "in-depth communication" with all parties involved. It would work on finding a political settlement to Ukraine's current crisis.
Li is known for being the Chinese ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019 and is considered to be a familiar face to Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Moscow was already aware of Beijing's willingness to facilitate negotiations with Kyiv.
The phone call between Xi and Zelensky came a few weeks after the Chinese president visited Russia to meet with Putin. The March meeting had the two leaders make a sweeping affirmation of their alignment across several issues, including shared mistrust of the United States, said CNN.
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