Senior Ukraine diplomat in Beijing for rare meeting with Chinese officials
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Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya (right) with Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov during a press conference in Turkey, on July 23.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV – A senior Ukrainian diplomat announced on Dec 18 that he had arrived in Beijing, a close ally of Russia, where he was expected to hold talks with Chinese officials.
The visit represents a rare meeting between officials from Kyiv and Beijing, which has been accused of aiding Moscow to prolong its war against Ukraine.
“Busy day ahead in Beijing,” Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya wrote on social media.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed to AFP news agency that Mr Kyslytsya would hold consultations with Chinese diplomats, without giving details.
Mr Kyslytsya said he was meeting US Ambassador to China David Perdue.
China – a major Russian trading partner – has said it takes a neutral stance on the war, and has not condemned Moscow’s invasion.
Beijing regularly calls for peace talks and respect for the territorial integrity of all countries.
But Western governments accuse Beijing of providing Russia with crucial economic support for its war effort, notably by supplying military components for its defence industry
