Kiev, Ukraine – Ukrainian officials met with a Chinese envoy on Thursday to discuss efforts to resolve the two-year conflict with Russia. During the meeting, they presented evidence of North Korean weaponry being supplied to Moscow. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, shared details of the situation on the battlefield and Kiev’s peace proposals with Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs.
The Ukrainian side highlighted their commitment to establishing a just peace, restoring the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty based on their peace formula. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s peace plan includes the removal of all Russian troops, reinstating Ukraine’s borders from 1991, and holding Russia accountable for its actions.
In response, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Li engaged in friendly discussions with Yermak, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and foreign minister, on bilateral ties and the Ukraine crisis. Switzerland has offered to host a peace summit, with preparatory meetings already underway. Despite efforts to engage Beijing in diplomatic relations, Russia has not been included in the discussions.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation presented evidence of downed missiles and weapons, which they claim were made by North Korea and supplied to Russia for attacks on Ukraine. Last month, Ukraine’s prosecutor general disclosed that Russia had fired at least 24 North Korean-made missiles over a span of several weeks.
Yermak also raised concerns about Russian violations of international conventions regarding prisoners of war and sought Chinese assistance in repatriating Ukrainian children who had been deported. Russia refutes the allegations of deportations, stating that children were relocated from conflict zones for their safety.
Li, on his second visit to Europe, recently held talks with a Russian deputy foreign minister in Moscow, emphasizing the importance of Moscow’s involvement in resolving the Ukraine crisis. The efforts to engage China in the peace process reflect Ukraine’s strategic diplomatic maneuvers in seeking a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.