The first formal call between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy and China’s Xi Jinping since the Ukraine crisis began occurred on April 26, marking a notable moment in diplomatic engagement between Kyiv and Beijing.
According to Xinhua, the initial telephone exchange between the Ukrainian president and the Chinese leader represented a significant step in efforts to shape the trajectory of their bilateral relationship. Zelenskiy, via his Twitter account, described the call and the forthcoming appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China as catalysts that could bolster ties between the two nations.
During the discussion, Xi Jinping indicated that China would deploy representatives to Ukraine and to other states to engage in consultations aimed at a political resolution of the crisis. He said Beijing would conduct in-depth talks with all parties involved to craft a political path forward for resolving the conflict.
Xi also announced that a special government envoy responsible for Eurasian matters would be dispatched to Ukraine and other destinations. He emphasized that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable routes to ending the crisis.
The team leading China’s efforts to address the Ukraine situation will be headed by Li Hui, a former Chinese ambassador to Moscow, who served in that role from 2009 to 2019. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specify when the envoy would arrive in Ukraine or other involved countries.
Yu Jun, deputy head of the Central Asian and Eastern European affairs department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke at a Beijing briefing and underscored that information would be released in a timely manner as developments unfold.
Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the ministry, noted that the Xi–Zelenskiy meeting occurred at Kyiv’s initiative. She asserted that China does not seek to become entangled in the Ukrainian conflict or pursue any ulterior motives.
State media, via China Central Television, reported that during the April 26 meeting, Xi affirmed China’s longstanding stance in favor of peace in Ukraine and its commitment to supporting negotiation efforts and a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Earlier in April, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Xi had signaled willingness to speak with Zelenskiy when conditions allowed. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also indicated that Beijing maintained contacts with all participants in the Ukrainian crisis, including Ukraine itself.
Xi cautioned that there is no simple or universal tool to resolve the Ukraine crisis and urged all sides to create the right conditions for talks. He reiterated Beijing’s support for diplomatic avenues and peace negotiations as the preferred resolution to the conflict.
In March, Zelenskiy expressed openness to a visit by Xi to Kyiv and conveyed a desire to meet with the Chinese leader. He stated that while there had been limited contact over more than a year, invitations to Xi were extended with the aim of meaningful dialogue. Reports from The Yomiuri Shimbun suggested Zelenskiy had not yet received a formal negotiation offer from China.
Background reporting also noted that a Financial Times article, drawing on European Union officials, indicated the EU pressed China to engage with both Russia and Ukraine in pursuit of negotiations, highlighting the EU’s preference for a comprehensive dialogue approach that involves all parties to the conflict.
These developments reflect continuing international interest in how China might influence diplomatic channels and negotiations aimed at de-escalating the Ukraine crisis, with Beijing signaling readiness to participate in discussions and to facilitate peace talks in coordination with global partners.