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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said China has significant leverage over Russia due to its economic ties with Moscow, but Ukraine does not currently see any indication that Beijing is prepared to use that influence to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France, on June 16, Zelenskyy stressed that all countries interested in ending the war should work together to achieve that goal, UATV English reports.
“I think that everyone who wants this war to end must unite. To end this war, we need to involve everyone,” Zelenskyy said when asked whether Beijing could exert pressure on Russia and whether Chinese President Xi Jinping should be among the key interlocutors on ending the war.
The Ukrainian president noted that China remains Russia’s most important trading partner, giving Beijing considerable influence over Moscow.
“China is a large and very influential country. I think Russia’s largest trade relationship is with China, and it depends on China whether to buy or not. Russia’s economy depends on China and on China’s decisions. That means China has influence,” he said.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said Kyiv has not seen evidence that Beijing is willing to use that leverage to help bring the war to an end.
“Of course, we would welcome their help. But we do not feel it. We do not feel their attitude. We do not feel that they are ready to put pressure on Putin, to do everything necessary to end this war,” Zelenskyy said.
The president added that he remains open to direct dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“Perhaps something will change. Of course, I am very open to meeting President Xi. Our teams can work on that, specifically to do everything possible to stop this war,” Zelenskyy said.
Earlier, Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin that China and Russia are “defending international justice” in today’s world.
