Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on China to play a stronger diplomatic role in efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine and bring Moscow back to the negotiating table.
Zelenskyy made the appeal while thanking international leaders for their messages marking Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, celebrated on August 24. His message to Chinese President Xi Jinping carried particular significance given Beijing’s potential influence over Moscow and its role in international efforts to end the conflict.
Referring to relations between Ukraine and China, Zelenskyy stressed that independence is a non-negotiable value for Ukrainians and all sovereign nations.
“We look forward to further cooperation and to China playing a strong diplomatic role in ending Russia’s war against our country. Peace can be our shared achievement,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The Ukrainian president also thanked Xi for his Independence Day greetings and highlighted the relationship between Ukraine and China, describing it as being based on mutual respect.
Zelenskyy’s appeal comes as Kyiv continues to seek greater international diplomatic pressure on Moscow while urging major powers to contribute more directly to efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable peace.
For Ukraine, China’s position remains particularly important because of its close strategic relationship with Russia and its ability to exert political influence in Moscow. Kyiv has repeatedly called on Beijing to use that influence to encourage Russia to end the war.
