Originally published April 26, 2023 6:02 am PDT
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the phone call was “long and meaningful.”
QUICK FACTS:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky have had their first phone call since the start of Russia’s military invasion.
- According to The Global Times, Xi reportedly told Zelensky that “dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out.”
- “On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace,” reads a statement of the phone call for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- “As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains. Everything China does is aboveboard. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward,” the statement continued.
- China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, “There is no winner in nuclear wars. On the nuclear issue, all relevant parties must stay calm and exercise restraint, truly act in the interests of their own future and that of humanity, and jointly manage the crisis. With rational thinking and voices now on the rise, it is important to seize the opportunity and build up favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis.”
- “China will send the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries to have in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China has sent multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and will keep providing help to the best of its ability,” according to the statement.
- Some believe President Xi’s intentions are to “weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance,” according to the Director of the Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies Theresa Fallon.
- Prior to the phone call, Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine and similar post-Soviet countries, a statement hurting China’s relationship with Europe.
US SUPPORT OF THE PHONE CALL:
- National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters that the United States “welcome[s] the news that there was a phone call between President Xi and President Zelensky. We think that’s a good thing.”
- “We’ve been saying for quite some time that we believe it’s important for President Xi and PRC officials to avail themselves of the Ukrainian perspective on this illegal and unprovoked invasion by Russia,” Kirby continued, noting, “We have long said we want this war to end.”
- “If there’s going to be a negotiated peace, it’s got to (be) when President Zelensky is ready for it … where he can do it from a position of strength,” Kirby added.
BACKGROUND:
- China and France are reportedly working together to create a plan facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
- The plan seeks to sponsor peace talks as soon as this summer.
- A spokesperson from China’s Foreign Ministry stated that all parties would need to “accumulate mutual trust to create conditions for a truce and peace talks,” adding that China “supports Europe starting from its own fundamental and long-term interests to push for resuming peace talks as soon as possible and to create a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework with consideration for the reasonable concerns of various parties.”
