Zelensky 'begging' to meet Xi Jinping, desperate to fight Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a face-to-face meeting. Kyiv has urged Beijing to use its political and economic influence in Russia to help end the war.

In his interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) released Thursday (4/8/2022), Zelensky revealed that he had asked to speak to Xi Jinping since the Russian attack on Ukraine.

 "I want to speak directly. I had that one conversation with [President] Xi Jinping a year ago," he said.

Since the start of the large-scale aggression on February 24, we have formally requested to have conversations, but we [have not] had any conversations with China although I believe it will help." As for China, Russia's most important ally, it has yet to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's purported "special military operation" in Ukraine, which he says aims to "denazify" and demilitarize the country.

 In the war that has lasted almost 6 months, at least 5,327 civilians in Ukraine were killed and forced around 12 million people to flee their homes. Fighting has also briefly prevented wheat and grains from leaving the country, known as the "world's bread basket," exacerbating food shortages and pushing up prices around the world.

Xi Jinping had previously expressed concern over the conflict in Ukraine during a summit in June, saying it "sounds the alarm for humanity". However, he gave no indication of how to end the battle.

 Xi Jinping Troops Fire Missiles, China Attacks Taiwan

 Earlier this month, he also spoke with Putin, a leader he previously described as a friend, and reiterated China's support for Russia's "sovereignty and security."

 

He said all parties should push for a responsible resolution of the Ukraine crisis and that China would continue to play its role in this end.

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