Ukraine and Russia they said Monday they hoped to keep Bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinpingafter sources close to him reported that, for the first time since the start of the war, he planned to speak with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, after i visit Moscow next week while “bitter fighting” continued in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
The chance of a direct involvement of Xi is encouraged by the United States, which today stressed that it hopes that a “compromise” will come out of that conversation.
According to sources close to the Chinese president quoted by The Wall Street Journal, The talks between the leader of the Asian giant and the Ukrainian president will be held remotely after his meeting with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
If the direct talks go through, they would mark a significant step in Beijing’s intentions to act as a peacemaker in Ukraine, a position hitherto met with skepticism in the West.
Also would bolster China’s credentials as a global mediatordays after he facilitated a surprise diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran last week.
US support for China’s dialogue with Ukraine
Even as a possibility, Washington has made it clear that it hopes to see a compromise between the Chinese president and Zelensky, according to outgoing US State Department spokesman Ned Price.
“We would certainly like to see, and we hope to see, a compromise between President Xi and President Zelensky,” Price was quoted as saying by Sputnik.
Earlier, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said his country had urged Xi to speak with Zelensky to hear the Ukrainian side in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Speaking to the press aboard Air Force One, Sullivan considered that “China and President Xi himself must listen directly to the Ukrainian perspective and not just the Russian one.”
Pope Francisco
REUTERS
Pope Francis could also mediate between Russia and Ukraine
Another potential dialogue on the agenda of both countries at war is with Pope Francis, who this week celebrated a decade at the helm of the Vatican. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, He said on Monday that “a statement from the Vatican must be expected” on the possibility of the pontiff traveling to Russia, according to the Ria Novosti agency.
On Saturday, the Pope reiterated that he was ready “to go to kyiv,” but on the condition that he “also go to Moscow.” “I go to both places or neither,” Francisco said.
“There are regular contacts with the Vatican through our diplomats; I have no other information about it,” Peskov added.picked up the Ansa news agency.
A journalist asked the spokesman if the Pope might decide to stop in the Vladivostok region, in the Russian Far East, on the occasion of a trip to Mongolia that could take place this year.
“First we need to use diplomatic channels, we are waiting for official statements from the Vatican on this matter”Peskov replied.
In the field of war, the Ukrainian Army reported today that “fierce fighting” is taking place against Russian forces for control of the center of the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, which was confirmed by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.
Source: Ambito
