BEIJING: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday said that it was “important” for Ukraine and China — an ally of Russia — to speak directly about plans to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kuleba said this during his visit to Beijing on Tuesday. In a video posted on social media upon his arrival in Beijing, Kuleba underscored the significance of bilateral dialogue between Kyiv and Beijing amidst the Ukraine crisis, especially given China’s stance as an ally of Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“It is very important that Kyiv and Beijing engage in direct dialogue and an exchange of positions,” Kuleba remarked.
This visit marks Kuleba’s first to China since the onset of the conflict and the first by any senior Ukrainian official since the conflict erupted.
During his stay, scheduled until Friday, Kuleba is set to hold extensive and substantive talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, focusing on potential pathways to peace in Ukraine.
China has positioned itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, asserting that it does not provide lethal military aid to either side, a stance in contrast to Western countries, particularly the United States, which have supported Ukraine with arms shipments.
Beijing has consistently refuted accusations that it supports Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, maintaining that its policies are transparent and impartial, while accusing Western nations of exacerbating the conflict through military support to Kyiv.
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Meanwhile, Russia’s military reported on Tuesday that it had captured another small village in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, further advancing its operations in the area.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, its forces successfully “liberated” the village of Ivano-Dariivka, located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Bakhmut, a town captured by Russian troops in 2023 following extensive artillery bombardment.
Moscow continues its slow but steady advance in eastern Ukraine, leveraging its superior manpower and military equipment.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has asserted that Russian forces are sustaining significant casualties and expressed hope that continued Western military aid deployments to the frontlines will bolster Ukrainian defences and impede further Russian advances.
