Zelensky Says He Plans To Meet Chinese President Xi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told reporters that he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping following Beijing's more assertive role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine.

• Zelensky said, per Reuters: "I plan to meet China's leader Xi Jinping... I think this is beneficial to both China and Ukraine."
• A meeting would be the first formal contact between Xi and Zelensky since the war began. Xi has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin numerous times and, according to the Wall Street Journal, may travel to Moscow for a meeting with Putin in the Spring, a fact which has caused US officials to question the credibility of Beijing's assertions that they are a neutral actor.
• A flurry of diplomatic activity today has led to cautious optimism that China may be prepared to use influence over Russia to restart discussions to negotiate a resolution to the war.
• The White House Spokesperson John Kirby issued a qualified assessment of the "Chinese peace plan": "The first two lines in that document, really, is where it should have been left, which is respect for national sovereignty."