Zelensky invites Xi to hold talks, Russia says decision up to China
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expresses his willingness and readiness to meet with President Xi.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his readiness to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We are ready to see him here," he said in an interview with The Associated Press published on Wednesday. "I want to speak with him… But during all this year, more than one year, I didn’t have [contact with Xi]."
According to the AP, Zelensky has already extended an invitation to Xi. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Mao Ning said she has no information on the matter.
Ning said, “As for the Ukrainian issue, China maintains communication with all parties concerned, including Ukraine. As for your question, I don’t have any information we could provide."
The advisor to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Mikhail Podolyak, claimed that a conversation between Zelenskyy and Xi was in the working but China's position on the meeting made it difficult.
Decision to meet is up to China: Kremlin
Following Zelensky's announcement, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that “Beijing itself decides whether it is appropriate to organize a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia has no right to advise.”
The Kremlin acknowledged China’s balanced position on the situation in Ukraine, leaving the decision to meet with the retired comedian Zelensky up to President Xi.
A Russian-Chinese joint statement was issued on March 21 as the leaders of the two countries signed two joint strategic documents on the same day. In this statement, Russia welcomed the positive diplomatic role China could have when it comes to the Ukrainian crisis.
China issued a 12-point position paper, on February 24, with the necessary steps needed to reach a "political settlement" in Ukraine.
The US feels left out
Commenting on China's initiative, US Secretary of State John Kirby has said that "the world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms."
As the US government continues to push for armed conflict in Ukraine, as opposed to a diplomatic solution, Zelensky’s willingness to meet with President Xi must have taken the US by surprise.
Moreover, the US was left out of another geopolitical conflict when China mediated talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. China was able to mend the diplomatic relationship that once seemed irreparable between the two countries.
If China is yet again successful in producing a peaceful solution to international conflict, the US’ role as world hegemon would be put into question.
