Portrait of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Xi Jinping

Cautious engagement sought (strong)

TL;DR

Volodymyr Zelenskyy views direct engagement with Xi Jinping as crucial for ending the war but is skeptical of China's current role.

Key Points

  • He repeatedly stated the importance of involving China in ending the war initiated by Russia, believing Beijing holds leverage.

  • The president ruled out the possibility of China acting as a security guarantor in any final peace agreement with Russia in August 2025.

  • He suggested that a former US president could potentially influence Xi Jinping to alter his position regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Summary

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has maintained a complex and evolving position regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the necessity of Beijing's involvement in any future peace settlement to end the conflict in Ukraine. He has repeatedly stated that it is important to involve China in ending the war, asserting that the Chinese leader has significant influence over the aggressor state's actions. However, the Ukrainian president has expressed disappointment that China has not yet taken a clearer stance or actively worked toward a resolution, particularly given China's stated position on territorial integrity.

Since the full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy has publicly called for a direct conversation with Xi Jinping, which had not materialized as of late 2024. He has explored the possibility of China acting as a security guarantor, though he later ruled out China holding this role in any final peace deal. More recently, he has suggested that external pressure, potentially from a figure like a former United States president, might be what is needed to change Xi Jinping's stance regarding the ongoing conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

Volodymyr Zelenskyy views direct engagement with Xi Jinping as essential for achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He sees China as a necessary party to any future talks due to its influence on the aggressor state. However, his stance is mixed due to disappointment over China's current non-committal role.

While the desire for China's participation remains, the nature of that role has shifted. He has ruled out China serving as a security guarantor in a potential peace deal. This shows an evolution from hoping for a key security partner to seeking influence for negotiation purposes.

The Ukrainian president publicly stressed that it is important to involve China in any efforts to end the war brought by Putin's aggression. He noted that while involvement is crucial, he had not yet seen China taking the necessary steps to facilitate an end to the fighting.