Ukraine’s top diplomat met with China’s foreign minister on Wednesday in talks that signaled Kyiv’s increased willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution to the war with Russia and to have China play a more central role in the effort.
“I am convinced that a just peace in Ukraine is in China’s strategic interests,” Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement after a meeting with Wang Yi, the Chinese official, in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
“China’s role as a global force for peace is important.”Mr. Kuleba made clear that Ukraine attached conditions to such negotiations, saying it would only engage Russia when Moscow was “ready to negotiate in good faith.” He added: “No such readiness is currently observed on the Russian side.”Mr. Kuleba is visiting China for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
His trip comes as Ukraine is slowly losing ground in the war and faces growing uncertainty about the level of support it will have from the West.
Moscow and Kyiv briefly held peace talks in the spring of 2022 but they quickly broke down over critical issues.
Persons:
Kyiv’s, ” Dmytro Kuleba, Wang Yi, “, Mr, Kuleba
Locations:
Russia, China, Ukraine, Guangzhou, Moscow, West, Kyiv