China’s leader, Xi Jinping, who is a close ally of Vladimir V. Putin, has finally agreed to talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, two months after issuing a vague plan for ending the war in Ukraine. This one-hour telephone discussion is the first known contact between the two leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
China’s official account of the discussion did not mention the words “Russia” and “war.” Instead, it emphasized the need for a “political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis” and warned of the danger of nuclear escalation.
Mr. Zelensky described the conversation as “long and meaningful.”
Recently, Mr. Xi has been trying to enhance his image as a global statesman by restoring diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming world leaders like President Emmanuel Macron to Beijing…
2023-04-26 15:50:35
Original from www.nytimes.com