China’s Xi, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy hold long-anticipated call

Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for talks between Russia and Ukraine in a phone call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warning “no one wins in a nuclear war,” state media said, in talks that had been anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to. acting as a peace mediator.

Xi’s government will send a “special representative” to Ukraine to discuss a possible “political settlement,” a government statement reported by state TV said.

China has tried to remain neutral in the war but has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 invasion saying their governments have “boundless friendship.”

Xi’s government published a peace proposal in February calling for a ceasefire and talks.

“Negotiations are the only possible way,” state TV said in a report on Xi’s comments to Zelenskyy.

“No one wins a nuclear war,” the report said. “All concerned parties must remain calm and put a stop to the nuclear issue and really look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to overcome the crisis.”