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| Ukraine's Zelensky holds first war phone call with China's Xi | Ukraine's Zelensky holds first war phone call with China's Xi |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Xi has never condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine | President Xi has never condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine |
| Ukraine's Volodymr Zelensky says he has had a "long and meaningful" phone call with China's Xi Jinping, their first contact since Russia's war began. | Ukraine's Volodymr Zelensky says he has had a "long and meaningful" phone call with China's Xi Jinping, their first contact since Russia's war began. |
| He said on Twitter he believed the call, along with the appointment of an ambassador to Beijing, would "give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations". | |
| China confirmed the call, adding that it "always stood on the side of peace". | China confirmed the call, adding that it "always stood on the side of peace". |
| Unlike the West, Beijing has sought to appear neutral on the Russian invasion. | Unlike the West, Beijing has sought to appear neutral on the Russian invasion. |
| But it has never hidden its close ties to Moscow, or condemned the invasion, and last month President Xi paid a two-day state visit to Russia. | But it has never hidden its close ties to Moscow, or condemned the invasion, and last month President Xi paid a two-day state visit to Russia. |
| He referred to President Vladimir Putin as his "dear friend", proposed a vague 12-point peace plan and insisted that China stood on the right side of history. | He referred to President Vladimir Putin as his "dear friend", proposed a vague 12-point peace plan and insisted that China stood on the right side of history. |
| However, he made no commitment to providing Russia with weapons. | However, he made no commitment to providing Russia with weapons. |
| Within days of the visit, President Zelensky invited the Chinese leader to visit Kyiv for talks, noting they had contact before the full-scale war but nothing since it began in February 2022. | Within days of the visit, President Zelensky invited the Chinese leader to visit Kyiv for talks, noting they had contact before the full-scale war but nothing since it began in February 2022. |
| In a readout of Wednesday's phone call, China quoted President Xi as saying that China, "as a responsible majority country", would "neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit". | In a readout of Wednesday's phone call, China quoted President Xi as saying that China, "as a responsible majority country", would "neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit". |
| That statement appears to be a swipe at China's biggest international rival, the US, which has provided the most help towards Ukraine's response to the Russian war. | That statement appears to be a swipe at China's biggest international rival, the US, which has provided the most help towards Ukraine's response to the Russian war. |
| But the likelihood of China helping to end the war appears remote, not just because Russia has shown no readiness to withdraw its forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory - a key demand from Kyiv. | But the likelihood of China helping to end the war appears remote, not just because Russia has shown no readiness to withdraw its forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory - a key demand from Kyiv. |
| Critics have also questioned the idea of Beijing acting as a mediator, citing not only Mr Xi's firm friendship with Russia's leader but also China's soaring trade with Russia and its refusal even to speak of an "invasion". | Critics have also questioned the idea of Beijing acting as a mediator, citing not only Mr Xi's firm friendship with Russia's leader but also China's soaring trade with Russia and its refusal even to speak of an "invasion". |
| But President Zelensky has repeatedly reached out to the Chinese president, an acknowledgement that China's vast wealth and global influence could swing the outcome of the war. | But President Zelensky has repeatedly reached out to the Chinese president, an acknowledgement that China's vast wealth and global influence could swing the outcome of the war. |
| On Wednesday he appointed a former minister, Pavlo Ryabikin, as ambassador to Beijing. | |
| China's 12-point plan to end the war was immediately criticised by Ukraine and the West. It included a proposal for unilateral sanctions to be dropped and failed to offer clear plans for Ukraine's future security or for territory seized by Russia. | China's 12-point plan to end the war was immediately criticised by Ukraine and the West. It included a proposal for unilateral sanctions to be dropped and failed to offer clear plans for Ukraine's future security or for territory seized by Russia. |
| However, in its readout on Wednesday, Beijing did announce its willingness to engage directly with Ukraine, by sending a special representative on Eurasian affairs to Kyiv and other capitals for "in-depth communication" on a political settlement. | However, in its readout on Wednesday, Beijing did announce its willingness to engage directly with Ukraine, by sending a special representative on Eurasian affairs to Kyiv and other capitals for "in-depth communication" on a political settlement. |
| Xi Jinping has had recent diplomatic success by persuading Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties. While it is possible he may have developed a taste for the role of a key international stakeholder, there may also be an economic element to his intervention. | Xi Jinping has had recent diplomatic success by persuading Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties. While it is possible he may have developed a taste for the role of a key international stakeholder, there may also be an economic element to his intervention. |
| China's flagging economy is still fragile after years of tight Covid-19 restrictions. It is dependent on export trade and cannot fully bounce back as the war in Ukraine drags on. | China's flagging economy is still fragile after years of tight Covid-19 restrictions. It is dependent on export trade and cannot fully bounce back as the war in Ukraine drags on. |
| News of the phone call made headline news in China's carefully controlled state media outlets, which printed China's interpretation of the call. | News of the phone call made headline news in China's carefully controlled state media outlets, which printed China's interpretation of the call. |
| On Chinese social media sites, users appeared supportive, with many calling for peaceful dialogue and supporting what they saw as China acting like a responsible country. | On Chinese social media sites, users appeared supportive, with many calling for peaceful dialogue and supporting what they saw as China acting like a responsible country. |
| "China must break the deadlock and melt the ice!" read one typical comment. | "China must break the deadlock and melt the ice!" read one typical comment. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Xi Jinping | Xi Jinping |
| Volodymyr Zelensky | Volodymyr Zelensky |
| China | China |
| Russia | Russia |
| Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin |
| Ukraine | Ukraine |