Moscow accuses Kyiv of undermining any attempt at peace, reacting in this way after a telephone conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the first since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2023, AFP writes.

• “The Ukrainian authorities and their Western supporters have already demonstrated the ability to undermine any peace initiative,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Moscow speaks of the “willingness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish the negotiation process”, while accusing Kyiv of not accepting “any initiatives aimed at a political and diplomatic settlement”.

• “A possible agreement to negotiations is conditioned (by Ukraine – no) on ultimatums with clearly unrealistic demands,” the ministry headed by Sergey Lavrov also claims.

The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, had a telephone conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, on Wednesday, reports the Chinese state television company CCTV, Reuters reports.

According to the source, they exchanged views on relations between China and Ukraine. Beijing will send a special emissary to Ukraine to discuss the solution to the Ukrainian crisis with all parties involved, Xi Jinping said, according to CCTV.

China has always been on the side of peace in the Ukraine crisis, and China’s main position is to call for peace and promote negotiations, the Chinese leader added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Twitter discussion: “I had a long and meaningful telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. I believe that this conversation, as well as the appointment of the ambassador of Ukraine to the People’s Republic of China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”

The call came after Xi said in early April that he was ready to talk to Zelensky. He has repeatedly asked Xi to meet with him, including after the Chinese leader visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month.

Ukraine and some Western officials have so far criticized Xi Jinping for the fact that, while he advertises himself as a peacemaker, his position is clearly on Moscow’s side.

Despite being one of Moscow’s main allies, China has sought to position itself as a neutral mediator between Russia and Ukraine, presenting a 12-point peace plan in February.

But on the other hand, there were growing fears that Beijing could supply Russia with weapons. Last month, Politico reported that Chinese firms, including one linked to the Beijing government, sent 1,000 assault rifles, drone parts and body armor to Russian organizations.