Zelensky: "Seeking Direct Talks with Xi Jinping... Urging China to Reconsider Its Stance on Russia"

First Interview with Hong Kong SCMP and Asian Media
"I Believe We Share the Value of Love for Family"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking a direct dialogue opportunity with Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging China, a "powerful nation," to reconsider its stance toward Russia.

On the 4th, President Zelensky stated in an interview with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), "I ask the Asian superpower to use its enormous political and economic influence on Russia to stop the war." This interview, the first with Asian media since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, was conducted via video call and lasted about 40 minutes.

He explained, "China is a country with strong economic power," adding, "China is also a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council." He further noted, "Without China, Russia would have felt complete economic isolation."

President Zelensky said, "I had a conversation with President Xi Jinping a year ago," and added, "I officially requested a dialogue after the airstrikes, but it never materialized."

He recalled, "President Xi is one of the few world leaders who has visited Ukraine 'more than once,'" and "In past calls, he spoke favorably about relations with Eastern European countries."

Condemning Russia's invasion, he emphasized, "Russians are aggressors, and this is a war on our territory," and expressed his belief that China and Ukraine share values such as love for family and children. He explained, "Everyone loves their children. Everyone wants to live peacefully and desires stability."

According to the Ukrainian Embassy in China, in 2021, China was Ukraine's largest trading partner, with trade volume reaching $19 billion (approximately 24.8482 trillion KRW).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.