THE Xi-Zelenskyy phone talks were welcomed by Russia, when asked about its reaction regarding the phone call, the Kremlin on Thursday said it welcomed anything that could bring the end of the conflict closer but Russia still needed to achieve the aims of their so-called special military operation in Ukraine.
Peskov said Moscow was familiar with the details of what Xi and Zelenskyy had discussed and said their stances on the ongoing conflict were well-known.
“We are ready to welcome anything that could hasten the end of the conflict in Ukraine and Russia achieving all the goals it has set itself”.
“As for the fact that they communicated– that is a sovereign matter for each of these countries and a question of their bilateral dialogue,” said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Spokesman,
Peskov was also asked if Russia and China had discussed restoring Ukraine to its 1991 borders during a recent visit to Russia by Chinese President Xi Jinping. To this, Peskov answered there were no such discussions.
It can be noted that following the talks, Zelenskyy released a statement saying
“There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine.
But Zakharova praised China for its efforts to help restart meaningful negotiations, she said Russia’s and China’s visions for a path to peace were broadly in tune, however, she also said, that the problem lies not with the lack of good plans.
Zakharova, said blamed Ukraine, saying that Kyiv’s ‘unrealistic demands’ are standing in the way of peace negotiations.
Zakharova is apparently referring to the eventual breakdown of Moscow-Kyiv negotiations last spring when officials on both sides held several rounds of meetings.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said,
“The Kyiv regime has so far not been receptive to any reasonable initiative aimed at a political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Its occasional agreement to hold negotiations is being tied to ultimatums with obviously unrealistic demands,” said Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson.
As for the United States, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the Xi-Zelenskyy phone talks a good thing but cautioned that he had only learned about the call through news reports.
The White House, on the other hand, welcomed the call but said it’s still too soon to tell if it would lead to a peace deal.
In recent months, the US has said that it was worried about Beijing providing weapons or ammunition to Moscow, although Beijing denies such accusations.
Meanwhile, the EU’s reaction was clearly positive.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s Office said he had pushed Xi to hold the call with Zelenskyy during a visit to Beijing this month.
European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer called China’s move a long overdue first step’ in exercising its responsibilities as a UN Security Council member.
“It is an important, long overdue first step by China in exercising its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council,” said Eric Mamer, European Commission Spokesperson.
Earlier, China named diplomat Li Hui its special envoy to Ukraine and ‘other countries.
“The envoy would be tasked with conducting ‘in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” said Xi Jinpin, China President.
Li was China’s Ambassador to Moscow from 2009 to 2019 and was awarded the order of friendship personally by Russian President Putin himself.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has appointed former Strategic Industries Minister Pavel Ryabkin as Ukraine’s New Ambassador to China.
