A top Chinese envoy is starting a tour of Europe, with his first stop in Ukraine and last in Russia. Beijing says the trip is aimed at discussing a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. The trip includes visits to Poland, France and Germany.
Li Hui is China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs since 2019. He is also a former ambassador to Russia. He is also the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Since the invasion, China has remained neutral in the matter. It has abstained from UN votes, warned Russia about the use of nuclear weapons and honoured some Western sanction. However, China is, in a sense, allied with Russia. It declared a no limits partnership with the Kremlin, and even accused NATO of provoking the invasion.
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Some speculate this trip might correspond with the start of a long-awaited counteroffensive by Ukraine to recapture territory seized by Russia. The tour also comes after Chinese President, Xi Jinping, held an hour-long phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last month. This is the first known wartime call between the two presidents. Zelenskyy reportedly described the call as “long and meaningful”.
Zelenksyy’s Europe Tour
President Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Paris on Sunday night, for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelensky has been meeting Western leaders in recent days in an effort to bolster support for Ukraine.
France dispatched a plane to pick up Zelensky in Germany, where he spoke with Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday. Macron and Zelenskyy met over dinner, where Macron reaffirmed France’s support to Ukraine and its fundamental interests.
The multi-stop European tour has seen new pledges of military support for his country, including that from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Ukraine has been given a new defence aid package worth €2.7bn from Germany.
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Zelenskyy is now visiting the UK, in a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Downing Street says the UK would confirm air defence missiles and drones to assist Ukraine’s defence later today.
The two are expected to meet for no more than a couple of hours. The UK visit will be the fourth stop on his European tours which have also included meeting in Berlin and Rome.
