Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly lamented that he hasn’t had any direct talks with Chinese language chief Xi Jinping since Russia’s army offensive towards Kiev started final 12 months, and he desires to rectify the state of affairs.

“We’re able to see him right here,” Zelensky mentioned in an interview with the Related Press that was revealed on Wednesday. “I need to converse with him. I had contact with him earlier than full-scale conflict, however throughout all this 12 months, a couple of 12 months, I didn’t have.”

Beijing final month unveiled its 12-point roadmap for ending the Russia-Ukraine battle, calling for a cease-fire and dealing towards a “sustainable European safety structure” moderately than imposing sanctions and making use of “most strain” to drive an answer. China has tried to play a “constructive position” within the disaster, resisting US strain to sentence Russia and be a part of within the West’s anti-Russia sanctions. US officers have dismissed the Chinese language proposal as a proposal that might assist solely Moscow.

Zelensky has hosted a parade of Western politicians in Kiev, together with US President Joe Biden and three UK prime ministers. He mentioned final month that he was open to China’s peace plan however would solely settle for a deal that led to Russia pulling all of its forces out of Ukrainian territory.

Chinese language International Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning advised reporters on Wednesday that she had no info on whether or not Zelensky’s regime had really invited Xi to Kiev. Nor was she capable of say whether or not the Chinese language president would settle for such a proposal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a state go to by Xi earlier this month in Moscow. US Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin final week referred to as the summit “very troubling.” Officers in Washington have advised that China is contemplating sending arms to Russia, saying such a transfer would have “penalties.”