Von der Leyen: Xi Jinping can talk to Zelensky when conditions allow

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “when the conditions and time are right,” European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference following the talks in Beijing. Her words leads TASS.

“It was interesting to hear that Xi Jinping emphasized his readiness to speak with President Zelensky when the conditions and time are right,” the head of the EC said, stressing that “this is already a positive development.”

At the end of March, Zelensky in an interview with the Associated Press declaredthat he is ready to meet with Xi Jinping. Prior to this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning statedthat Beijing cannot yet provide any information about a possible conversation between the PRC chairman and the Ukrainian president.

In late February, against the backdrop of the publication of the PRC’s plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Zelensky said that he would like to meet with Xi Jinping. According to the Ukrainian leader, he intends to discuss military operations in Ukraine and economic cooperation between the two countries with his Chinese counterpart. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on this answeredthat Beijing is in contact with all parties to the conflict, “including Ukraine.”

March 13 The Wall Street Journal reportedthat Xi Jinping intends to hold an online meeting with Zelensky after his visit to Moscow. The Chinese leader left Russia on March 22, but Kyiv has not received confirmation of the call from the Chinese side.

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk noted earlier that the heads of the two countries “have something to say to each other.” The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that they did not have information about preparations for a possible conversation.