Ukraine's Zelensky says he plans to meet China's Xi

Zelensky on Friday welcomed some elements of a Chinese proposal for a ceasefire in Russia's war on Ukraine.

  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council in Kyiv, Ukraine September 30, 2022. (photo credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council in Kyiv, Ukraine September 30, 2022.
(photo credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping but did not say when such a meeting might take place.

"I plan to meet Xi Jinping and believe this will be beneficial for our countries and for security in the world," he told a news conference in Kyiv on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky had earlier reiterated that he would not hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine welcomes elements of Chinese ceasefire proposal

 Zelensky on Friday welcomed some elements of a Chinese proposal for a ceasefire in Russia's war on Ukraine but said only the country where a war is being fought should be the initiator of a peace plan.

"It's an important signal that they are preparing to take part in this theme," he said during a news conference in Kyiv, referring to China's bid to broker peace.

 RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this month.  (credit: Sputnik/Kremlin/Reuters)
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this month. (credit: Sputnik/Kremlin/Reuters)

"So far, I see this as a signal - I don't know what will happen later."

Zelensky, who said he believed Russia-allied China did not offer a concrete plan but some "thoughts," also warned Beijing against providing Moscow with arms.

"I very much want to believe that China will not deliver weapons to Russia, and for me this is very important," he said, speaking on the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"This is point number one."