NEW YORK - Chinese leader Xi Jinping is preparing to visit Moscow for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming months, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the plan.

Mr Xi’s meeting with Mr Putin will be part of a push for multi-party talks on peace in Ukraine and allow China to reiterate its calls that nuclear weapons not be used, the report added. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24 last year.

Preparations for the trip are at an early stage and the timing has not been finalised, the WSJ said, adding that Mr Xi could visit in April or in early May, when Russia celebrates its World War II victory over Germany.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi arrived in Moscow on Tuesday as the country appears to be ramping up its diplomatic effort to push for a peace settlement in Ukraine, and just hours after Mr Putin announced Russia was suspending its participation in a landmark nuclear arms treaty with the United States.

Mr Wang will likely discuss Mr Xi’s trip while he is in Moscow, the WSJ said, quoting people familiar with the summit planning. REUTERS