Xi Jinping calls for "creating conditions" for direct "dialogue" between Ukraine and Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged major powers to "create the conditions" for a direct "dialogue" between Ukraine and Russia currently at war, during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing.
"The international community should create conditions and offer assistance to both sides so that direct dialogue and negotiations can resume," Xi told Orban, according to state-run CCTV television.
"Only when the major powers show positive energy, instead of negative energy, can hope for a ceasefire in this conflict appear," he added.
The Hungarian leader made surprise visits to Russia and Ukraine last week after his country took over the six-month presidency of the European Union (EU) on 1 July.
His visit to Moscow was frowned upon by his European partners, who are unwavering supporters of Kiev and have cut ties with Russia since it invaded the former Soviet republic in February 2022.
Orban, whose country is a member of the EU and NATO, is the only EU leader who has remained close to the Kremlin.
Both China and Hungary advocate a peaceful resolution of the conflict and maintain exchanges with the Kremlin.
Beijing and Budapest "share" fundamentally the same ideas, Xi told Orban.
"Peace mission"
Xi and Orban had already held a private meeting in May, during a state visit by the Chinese leader to Hungary.
At that time, the Chinese president praised the EU as an exemplary "strategic partnership", and called on Hungary to play "a greater role" in the "development" of relations between Beijing and Brussels.
The current visit to Beijing is a "peace mission 3.0", Orban wrote on the X social network.
In Ukraine, the Hungarian prime minister met with President Volodimir Zelenski on 2 July and called for a 'ceasefire', a position that runs counter to that of his European and Ukrainian allies.
Zelensky rejected this idea, believing that Moscow would use it to strengthen its position in the country.
Kiev is demanding the full withdrawal of Russian troops from the former Soviet republic, including from the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, and payment for damages caused since the invasion.
Ukraine relies on Western aid to deal with Russia.
Washington, its main supporter, announced a further 2.3 billion dollars, including for air defence systems.
Orban, on the other hand, opposes this aid and vetoed a 50 billion euro EU package earlier this year, which was finally approved with some delay.
"Xi Jinping appreciated Orban's efforts to promote a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis and put forward China's views and proposals," CCTV reported.
The meeting comes a day before the NATO summit, which will mark the 75th anniversary of the US-led alliance.
