Latest Developments
- Three Russian aircraft intercepted over Baltic Sea by Germany and Britain
- Ukrainian and Chinese leaders speak by phone in first known contact since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- British defense ministry says heavy short-range combat continues in western districts of Bakhmut
- Russian opposition former mayor on trial over criticism of war in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “long and meaningful” phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, with the two men agreeing to send envoys to Beijing and Kyiv in a possible initial move to broker peace talks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, in a comment on Twitter, gave no details of his nearly hourlong conversation with Xi, his first known contact with the Chinese president since Russia’s invasion 14 months ago. Zelenskyy said, “I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”
Later, on his website, he called the conversation productive and said it would lead the way toward "possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine."
Chinese state media reported that Xi appealed to Zelenskyy for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, warning, "There is no winner in a nuclear war." He was apparently referring to the threat of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons. Chinese state TV said Xi's government would send a special representative to Ukraine for talks about a possible political settlement.
"Negotiation is the only viable way out," state TV said in a report on Xi's comments to Zelenskyy. "All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis."
China has attempted to appear neutral on the Russian invasion, in February proposing a cease-fire and peace talks. But Beijing has also refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or call for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly said his government will not engage in peace talks until Moscow withdraws its troops from all of Ukraine. "There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises,” Zelenskyy said after his phone call with Xi.
Meanwhile, Russia wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's annexation of Crimea and last year’s declaration that the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are part of Russia.
Chinese state media quoted Xi as telling Zelenskyy, “Amid the current rise of reasonable thinking and voices from all sides, we should seize the opportunity to build up favorable conditions for a political settlement of the crisis.”
In Washington, the White House described the Xi-Zelenskyy call as a positive development, allowing the Chinese leader to hear Ukraine's view of Russia’s "illegal, unprovoked invasion."
"We think that's a good thing," said John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman.
Last month, Xi made a three-day state visit to Moscow, highlighting Beijing’s bid for global leadership. At the end of the talks, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared their two countries had a “no-limits friendship.” Since then, Putin has also met at the Kremlin with Chinese defense officials.
Russian recon aircraft over Baltic Sea
Three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, the German air force reported Wednesday. German officials said the aircraft, flying without their transponders on, were intercepted by German and British planes.
Norway on Tuesday said its air force had identified a group of Russian military planes flying over the Barents Sea. The Norwegian air force identified the aircraft as two bombers, two refueling tankers and three fighter jets.
In Wednesday’s update on the situation in Ukraine, the British defense ministry said heavy, short-range combat continues in the western districts of Bakhmut.
In the post on Twitter, the ministry said that during the past week Ukraine has sought to maintain control of an important supply route because other resupply options into Bakhmut are likely complicated by mud.
The former mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia, has gone on trial on charges of discrediting the Russian military over its offensive in Ukraine. Yevgeny Roizman is a popular opposition figure. He is the last prominent Kremlin critic who is still in Russia and not in prison.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
