China's Xi Jinping Expands Diplomatic Reach... Plans Talks with Russian and Ukrainian Leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping is reported by major foreign media to hold consecutive meetings with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. Having recently secured a third term as president and reaffirmed his internal governance power, President Xi appears to be expanding his diplomatic efforts by stepping into 'war mediation.'

On the 13th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Xi plans to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, with the timing expected to be after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled for next week.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

WSJ, citing sources, reported, "The meetings with President Putin and President Zelensky reflect China's efforts to play a more active role in mediating an end to the Ukraine war." It also stated, "President Xi is considering visits to other European countries following his visit to Russia, but the overall schedule has not been finalized."

Major foreign media outlets reported that President Xi plans to visit Russia as early as next week to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Regarding the veracity of this, the Russian Kremlin declined to comment, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also not issued an official response.

President Xi and President Putin previously held a bilateral meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September last year. If a meeting with President Zelensky takes place, it would be the first since the start of the Ukraine war following Russia's invasion in February last year. WSJ evaluated this diplomatic attempt by stating, "The new diplomatic expansion reflects the confidence of President Xi and the Communist Party that China can offer an alternative to the U.S.-led international relations model through commercial ties rather than military power."

Meanwhile, on the 10th, President Xi was unanimously re-elected as president at the National People's Congress (NPC) meeting, becoming the first president since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to secure a third term.