China’s neutral position on war “important” for Ukraine – official

Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podyak said this on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"Is China a beneficiary of the war? It seems to me that there are many economic beneficiaries of the war, not just China, but it is fundamentally important for us that China does not interfere in this war and continues to take the neutral position it is taking today," Podyak said.

Read also: China should use its influence on Russia to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity – Eurean Commission

According to him, China is taking advantage of the situation with the closure of Eurean markets for Russia, getting certain benefits off of this. At the same time, the official noted that China is not investing in Russia in terms of military technogy or weapons.

"It is important for us that China adheres to this neutral position and does not invest in the war, does not support Russia," the advisor said.

Podyak also positively assessed the outcome of President Vodymyr Zelensky's phone call with President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that Ukraine was able to convey its principled position on the nature of the war.

"I would assess the very fact of the conversation as absutely positive because China has certain reasons to see itself as a much more powerful state than Russia today and to claim the position that Russia used to occupy in the global pitical environment. And, of course, this is important for us from the point of view that President Zelensky was able to convey principled positions on the nature of the war, on how this war should end. And this was publicly voiced, this position was recorded that there can be no compromise of 'territory in exchange for peace'," Podyak said.

Read also: Shmyhal calls good start to develing relations with China Zelensky–Xi conversation

As Ukrinform reported, on April 26, President of Ukraine Vodymyr Zelensky had an hour-long phone call China’s President Xi Jinping. During the talks, the heads of state discussed a full range of tical issues of bilateral relations. Special attention was paid to ways of possible coeration to establish a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.