For Kiev, the “talks open a new phase in relations”. Beijing reiterates: “Ready to work with everyone for a political solution”
Russia welcomes any event that may bring peace to Ukraine and the achievement of the objectives of what it calls a special military operation. This is how Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to a request for comment on yesterday’s telephone conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the first since the beginning of the war that China has never explicitly condemned.
“We are ready to welcome anything that can bring the end of the conflict in Ukraine closer and, in fact, Russia’s achievement of all the goals set,” Peskov said at a press conference.
CHINA – Beijing, for its part, called the telephone talks an “important step by China to promote a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine”. In particular, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, in statements reported by the CGT, insisted on the “position” of the Asian giant with respect to the conflict, “urging peace talks”.
According to Qin, who spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries in Xi’an, “the development of the Ukrainian crisis up to this point” has a “profound historical background and complex practical reasons” and “l The only way to resolve complicated conflicts is through political settlement.” The Asian giant and the countries of Central Asia, he stressed, “share similar opinions and positions on the Ukrainian crisis” and Beijing is “ready to work with all international parties” to “promote the broadest possible consensus for a solution to the Ukrainian crisis “.
China has also welcomed the appointment of the “new Ukrainian ambassador to China” and is committed to facilitating “his work”.
UKRAINE – The conversation between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, “opens a new phase in our bilateral relations”, declared the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, during a press conference to the Foreign press. Speaking of a “very productive conversation”, Shmyhal said he was convinced that yesterday’s meeting was “a positive start for the future development of our relations”. As for the Chinese plan for a solution to the conflict, the Ukrainian prime minister specified that Kiev has its own way “to establish peace, which is the formula presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky”.
BORN – NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg greeted the first phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelensky. However, in a briefing with reporters, he stressed that this “doesn’t change the fact that China still hasn’t condemned” the Russian invasion.
Source-www.adnkronos.com