UPDATE DAY
A conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping “would be a very good thing,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.
Assuring that the United States has long been “encouraging” such contact, he said: “We think it is very important that the Chinese hear the Ukrainians' point of view and not only that of (Vladimir) Putin.”
The Ukrainian president said he was planning a meeting with the Chinese leader at the end of February.
The Wall Street Journal said earlier this week that Xi Jinping planned to speak soon to his Ukrainian counterpart, which would be their first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine just over a year ago.
According to the daily, the conversation could take place after a planned visit next week from the Chinese president in Moscow.
Beijing has neither condemned nor supported an explanation. citing the Russian offensive in Ukraine, while providing diplomatic support to Moscow.
On February 24, one year to the day after the outbreak of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Beijing published a document in 12 points calling in particular on Moscow and Kiev to hold peace talks.
But if China seeks to impose itself as a mediator in this conflict, its position as an ally of Russia disqualifies it in the eyes of the Westerners, who on their side support Ukraine.
Recently accused by the United States of considering supplying arms to Russia, China has firmly denied it.