Ukraine has invited Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, to participate in a peace summit alongside other world leaders, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top adviser has said.
Switzerland has agreed to hold the talks, but no venue or date has been set just yet.
“We are definitely inviting China to participate in the summit, at the highest level, at the level of the president of the People’s Republic of China,” Igor Zhovkva said.
“China’s participation will be very important to us. We involve our partners in the world so that they convey to the Chinese side how important it is to participate in such a summit.”
Why is this significant?
Experts suggest Chinese involvement in peace talks could be instrumental in ending the war.
Beijing has remained close to Vladimir Putin’s government since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but has also said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected – and has previously offered to mediate in the conflict.
The two governments declared a “no limits” partnership in Beijing three weeks before the invasion, and since then China has dramatically increased its Russian energy imports.
Mr Xi remains one of Mr Putin’s closest allies of the major powers, and his views on a potential peace plan could prove key for the future of the conflict in Ukraine.
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