US advises Xi to hold talks with Zelensky as part of his trip to Moscow

WASHINGTON, March 17 (DPA/EP) –

The authorities of the United States have made an appeal this Friday to the president of China, Xi Jinping, to take advantage of his visit to Moscow, scheduled for next week, to maintain “direct contact” also with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski.

“We hope that President Xi will make direct contact with President Zelensky, as we continue to believe that it is very important that he also listen to the Ukrainian side,” said John Kirby, director of communications for the US National Security Council. .

On this point, Kirby has conveyed the concern of the US authorities over the fact that unilateral proposals on the war are being launched from Beijing only from a perspective favorable to Russia, mentioning at this point the peace agreement initiative presented weeks ago. .

Said initiative includes a ceasefire that, from Washington’s point of view, at this point in the conflict would be equivalent to “ratifying the Russian conquest”, since Moscow has managed to take Ukrainian positions in the far eastern part of Ukraine, in the Donbas region. .

Thus, if such a ceasefire were to take place, Russia could take the opportunity to further consolidate its positions in the occupied territories, rebuild critical infrastructure, rearm its troops and replenish its forces to launch attacks against Ukraine again when Moscow considers it.

The Chinese and Russian authorities reported this Friday that President Xi will make an official visit to Russian territory between March 20 and 22 as part of the deepening of bilateral ties and after Beijing presented a peace plan. to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Following this announcement, the British Government has urged President Xi to take advantage of the future visit to ask his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to withdraw troops from Ukraine, deployed for more than a year, and has asserted that the plan peace proposed by Beijing must also be accompanied by guarantees in terms of sovereignty and self-determination for Kiev.