Chinese president calls for creating conditions for Kiev-Moscow direct dialogue

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for creating the conditions for a direct dialogue between Kiev and Moscow in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, during a meeting in Beijing with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orban is making the unannounced visit after a controversial visit to Moscow on Friday during which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed war in Ukraine.

Orbán, whose country held the EU’s rotating presidency for six months, has angered his European partners, who have been providing steadfast support to Kiev and have cut bridges with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Orbán is the only EU leader to remain close to the Kremlin.

During a meeting with the Hungarian official, Xi Jinping called for creating conditions for a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, state television reported.

“Only when great powers show positive energy instead of negative energy will this conflict see a glimmer of hope for a ceasefire as soon as possible,” Xi said.

“China and Hungary share the same ideas in essence,” he said.

Beijing and Budapest are in agreement on Ukraine, calling for a peaceful settlement of the dispute while maintaining close ties with the Kremlin.

Beijing presents itself as a neutral party to the war and says it doesn’t send lethal aid to either side, unlike the United States and other Western countries.

However, Beijing has provided an important lifeline for Russia’s isolated economy, with trade between the two countries booming since the conflict began.

Orban and Xi previously held private talks on May during the Chinese president’s state visit to Hungary.

Xi hailed an exemplary strategic partnership within the EU and called on Hungary to play a greater role in the development of relations between Beijing and Brussels.

Upon arriving early Monday morning at Beijing airport, Orban wrote on X, “Peace Mission 3.0” without giving any further details, attaching his post to a photo showing him at the airport where he was received by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

Later, he announced on his Instagram account “Next stop: Washington” where he will attend a NATO summit from Tuesday to Thursday to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the alliance and is expected to be dominated again by the question of war in Ukraine.

But on Monday, the United States expressed concern about Orban’s meeting with Xi.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Orbán’s trip certainly doesn’t seem constructive in terms of delivering results in Ukraine, adding: “It’s troubling”.

Before Beijing and Moscow, Orban visited on July 2, Ukraine, his first trip to the country since the war broke out, and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Orban called for a ceasefire, contrary to the positions of the Ukrainians and their European allies.

Ukraine’s president rejected the idea, saying Moscow would use it to strengthen its position.

The Ukraine is demanding the full withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and compensation for damage to the country since the Russian invasion began.

Ukraine desperately needs Western help to counter Russia, and Washington, its main backer, has announced an additional $2.3 billion in aid, mainly to secure air defense systems for Kiev.

The Hungarian prime minister opposes such assistance, contrary to the position of his European partners.

At the beginning of the year, it blocked the allocation of $50 billion in European aid to Ukraine, which was later approved after a delay.