SW News: China is prepared to intervene in Europe's worst battle since World War II as fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine. On social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had a long and meaningful phone conversation.

The Chinese president will also send a delegation to Ukraine to hold talks with all parties on resolving the conflict. Xi pledged that China would remain neutral in the conflict, saying Beijing “will neither watch the fire from the other side nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit.”

Ukraine's president said that the selection of the Ukrainian ambassador to China will also give a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations between both countries. Zelensky did not immediately provide any additional information.

Despite the Ukrainian president's pleas, Xi has only so far met Vladimir Putin of Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022. “There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders,” he said.

The meetings on Wednesday came after China's top ambassador in France expressed disapproval of comments he made regarding the sovereignty of Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing upheld the objectives and tenets of the United Nations Charter and respected the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine.

In February, the Chinese government issued a peace proposal that demanded a halt to hostilities and peace negotiations. A report on Chinese state TV said Xi had told the Ukrainian leader that negotiation is the only viable way out, adding there is no winner in a nuclear war.

Xi added: “When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis.”

While some political analysts say that the contact came soon after Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to France, made remarks that sparked outrage in Europe by casting doubt on the sovereignty of former Soviet states. China's Ministry of foreign affairs condemned the remarks, referring to them as "personal comments". Others think that Beijing is presenting Xi as a mediator in the dispute in Ukraine to maintain its relationship with the European Union.

Chinese officials say that Beijing plans to send a delegation to Ukraine and other countries to start peace negotiations.