Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said that he is planning to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping after Beijing called for urgent peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. Although he didn’t mention when or where he was planning to meet Xi expressed hope that Beijing will support “just peace” in Kyiv, AFP reported.
He told reporters, “I am planning to meet Xi Jinping. This will be important for world security.”
As the war marked its first anniversary, he said that he is doing his best to prevent Chinese arms supplies to Russia to prevent any risk of “World War III.”
China called for urgent peace talks as it released a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Several western countries rebuffed proposals and also warned Beijing of its close ties to Moscow. Beijing has sought to maintain its position as a “neutral party” in the conflict while maintaining close ties with its strategic ally Russia.
However, Zelensky added that he was convicted that only a country whose territory is under attack can initiate “peace initiatives.”
This comes on the same day as a historic vote in the UN demanding Russia to withdraw from Ukraine immediately.
Countries including the US, Australia and Canada imposed new sanctions on Moscow. The US Departments of the Treasury and State will implement “sweeping sanctions” against key revenue-generating sectors like defence and banks, besides blocking access to semiconductors. On the other hand, Australia imposed sanctions against 90 individuals and 40 entities, however, Canada imposed new sanctions against 129 individuals and 63 entities including Russian deputy prime ministers and officials, prime minister Trudeau said.
(with inputs from agencies)
