As his country’s bitter war with Russia approaches the one-year mark, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wants to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to discuss Beijing’s proposals to end the conflict. Can go
“China historically respects our territorial integrity, and therefore must do everything to get Russia to leave Ukraine’s territory,” Zelensky told a news conference on Friday.
He said he planned to meet with Xi and believed it would “benefit the security of our countries and the world.”
His remarks came after China put forward a 12-point peace plan, in which both sides agreed to gradually reduce tensions, secure nuclear facilities, establish humanitarian corridors and stop attacks on civilian populations. has been invoked.
“No one is benefited by strife and war. The plan states that all sides must remain rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and escalating tensions, and prevent the crisis from worsening or even spiraling out of control.
It said that “dialogue and negotiation” was the only viable solution. Although it gave no details on what form the possible talks might take, it said China would play a “constructive role” in facilitating the talks.
Zelensky said his main goal was to ensure that China did not supply arms to Russia, pointing to US allegations last week that China could provide non-lethal military aid to Russia, and that lethal Might even consider sending help. Beijing has denied this.
He did not say whether a meeting with Xi had been arranged or gave any indication of when it might happen.
But less than 24 hours after his speech, China’s foreign ministry announced that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko would visit Beijing later this month.
A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko, who is often referred to as “Europe’s last dictator”, is grateful to Putin after massive protests against the presidential election in 2020, which Belarus’ opposition And Western governments had accused. Experienced leader of rigging.
