Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a "long and constructive" phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, expressing hope that it would give a boost to relations with Beijing. He wrote on his official Twitter account, "I believe that this call, along with the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a strong impetus to enhance our bilateral relations."
Chinese President Xi stated: "As we are a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major state, we will not stand idly by, nor will we add fuel to the fire, nor seek to profit from this war."
The White House welcomed the call, noting that it is too early to know if it will lead to a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby commented, "This is a good thing. Whether it will lead to meaningful action towards peace or a plan or proposal, I don’t think we know that right now."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova remarked that she "notes China’s readiness to engage in the peace process in Ukraine and its efforts to establish a negotiating process."
Additionally, the Deputy Head of the European and Asian Department in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Yun Gun, indicated that the phone call between Xi and Zelensky reflects China's constructive and neutral stance on international affairs, adding, "What China has done to help resolve the Ukrainian crisis has been tremendous."
