This follows a recent meeting between Chinese officials and Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, who visited China from July 23 to 25, 2024.
During the meeting, China, which was seen as one of Russia's major backers in the wake of the 2022 invasion, also assured that it would not supply weapons to Russia.
The visit of a Ukrainian official at this level to China was the first in many years, Ukrainian official Vasyl Ivashko said in a statement.
'This is a clear signal of Beijing's openness to dialogue with Kyiv,' Ivashko stated.
The official further affirmed Ukraine's readiness for a diplomatic settlement of the war with the Russian Federation but accused Russia of lacking such commitment.
'Moscow is not ready to conduct negotiations in good faith,' Ivashko added.
Following the recent talks, the Ukrainian side has invited China to a second summit aimed at securing lasting peace with the Kremlin after more than two years of war. The country says efforts are ongoing to attract Russian representatives to the meeting.
The first summit was held in Switzerland in June and was attended by delegations from 92 countries. Russia was not represented at the meeting.
'Ukraine is convinced that a just peace in Ukraine corresponds to China's strategic interests, and China's role as a global peace force is important,' Ivashko noted.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This marked a dramatic escalation of a conflict that had been simmering since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The invasion was a surprise to the world and widely condemned as an illegal act of aggression. The conflict has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and thousands killed.
Global Impact
The invasion has had far-reaching consequences, including economic sanctions on Russia, a surge in energy prices, and a strengthening of NATO. The war continues, with intense fighting in various parts of Ukraine.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
