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Ukraine war
ChinaDiplomacy

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to visit China for talks in search for end to war

  • Dmytro Kuleba will begin a four-day visit to Beijing on Tuesday to discuss peace and explore communication, trade and economic cooperation

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba begins a four-day visit to China on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Alyssa Chen
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to begin a high-stakes visit to China on Tuesday, with the mission focused on a potential Chinese role in restoring peace in Ukraine.
“The main topic of discussion will be the search for ways to stop Russian aggression and China’s possible role in achieving a sustainable and just peace,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that both nations would also discuss the state of bilateral relations and prospects for development.

The four-day visit was initiated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to statements from both country’s foreign ministries on Monday.

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In a video speech released on Weibo, China’s equivalent of X, Kuleba said they would discuss matters such as the “restoration of peace, deepening our bilateral dialogue, and expanding trade and economic cooperation”.

This will be Kuleba’s first visit to China as foreign minister since the start of the war, and follows talks between Chinese foreign vice-minister Sun Weidong and Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister, in Beijing last month.
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During those talks, the Ukrainian official urged Beijing to send a delegation to last month’s peace summit in Switzerland. China did not attend, and said the participation of both warring parties was a prerequisite for any meaningful peace summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had openly criticised Beijing for trying to dissuade other countries from attending the peace conference.

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