In January 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, celebrated 30 years of diplomatic ties, highlighting their “deepening political mutual trust” and “profound friendship.” However, less than two months later, Russia, one of China’s closest partners, invaded Ukraine, and since then, Mr. Xi had not spoken to Mr. Zelensky until Wednesday, despite the Ukrainian leader’s repeated requests.
The relationship they once touted as “sound and stable” had become a distant memory, and the question of when the pair would speak reflected their countries’ uncertain state of relations amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. Before the war, trade and cultural exchanges had been growing, but now both sides are juggling goals that sometimes conflict.
Ukraine had been courting China for its potential to rein in Russian aggression, but it was also aware of Beijing’s demonstrated reluctance to do so and concerns…
2023-04-26 10:30:21
Post from www.nytimes.com