The Ukrainian president has invited the Chinese leader to visit the country, adding that he has not spoken to him for more than a year

A possible historic meeting: Zelenski invites Xi Jinping to Ukraine

photo_camera PHOTO/Servicio de Prensa Presidencial de Ucrania/vía REUTERS - President Volodimir Zelenski of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has invited the leader of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, to visit Kiev in the near future. This invitation was made during an interview with the Associated Press on 29 March. In this interview, Zelenski spoke about the importance of Bakhmut in the fight against Russian aggression and how he reacted to Putin's nuclear threats and analysed the visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Russia, among other topics. 

The Ukrainian president stated that he was in regular contact with the Chinese leader before the start of the full-scale war in February 2022. However, after that date, communications with the Chinese leader stopped. This means that, for more than a year, they have had no contact. In the exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Volodimir Zelenski said: "We are ready to see him here. I want to talk to him. I was in contact with him before the full-scale war. But during this whole year, more than a year, we have had no contact".

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During his visit to Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping showed his support for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine, but rejected the deployment of nuclear weapons in the region. He also stressed the importance of respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity and preserving the security of all countries in the region. Although China has not committed itself to any concrete steps to end the war, it expressed its readiness to help the warring countries reach an agreement. 

Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, said that preparatory work to organise a direct talk between the Ukrainian and Chinese leaders was ongoing and "has not yet reached any final conclusions". 

Bakhmut remains a topical issue. President Volodimir Zelenski believes that, if Bakhmut falls into the hands of Russian troops, Vladimir Putin will pressure Ukraine into unacceptable compromises and will succeed in the deal with the West, China and Iran. Zelenski also believes that defeat in this battle would be more political than tactical, leaving Ukrainian society weary and putting pressure on it to compromise with Russia. However, the Ukrainian president believes that his country needs US military and financial assistance to win the war against Russia and fears that any change in US political forces could affect the conduct of the war. 

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Fierce fighting in Ukraine continues

The military situation in Ukraine remains critical, with the enemy carrying out aggressive attacks that destroy civilian infrastructure and kill innocent civilians. Ukraine's president condemned the latest attack on Slaviansk, which killed two people and injured 29 others. These attacks have not only destroyed buildings, but have led to the forced displacement of thousands of people. The communities of Esman and Bilopol were also attacked with cannon artillery and an automatic grenade launcher. In the face of this situation, President Zelenski has declared that Ukraine will not tolerate abuses of its citizens. 

Fighting in Bakhmut continues and Ukrainian troops are resisting fiercely, however, in the face of intense pressure from Russian forces, the Ministry of Defence said that despite the heavy fighting, the Ukrainian army has not surrendered and is ready to defend the city against the invading forces. But there have been heavy casualties among Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, as well as among Russian soldiers. 

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Zelenski has expressed his appreciation for the nation's unity in the face of the war, despite initial difficulties. "It could have gone one way, dividing the country, or the other way, uniting us.  I am very grateful.  I am grateful to everybody, every partner, our people, thank God, everybody, that we found this path at this critical time for the nation. The search for this path saved our nation, and we saved our land together," the Ukrainian leader concluded in his interview. 

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