CHINESE leader Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call today that his government will send a peace envoy to Ukraine, Chinese media reported.

This came two months after Beijing put forward a 12 point plan to provide a framework for bringing an end to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine and to provide the basis for peace.

Mr Zelensky said that he had “a long and meaningful phone call” with Mr Xi. 

His press officer, Serhii Nykyforov, said that the two presidents spoke for nearly an hour.

“I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” Mr Zelensky said in a Facebook post.

China Central Television said that Beijing intends to send an envoy to Kiev to discuss “a political settlement” for the conflict.

But there was no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia.

“China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” the statement said.

China has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict and has refused to criticise Moscow’s invasion.

The Chinese released a 12-point peace proposal in February which included a call for a ceasefire and peace talks as well as an end to the “cold war mentality.”

Mr Xi is reported as saying to Mr Zelensky that “negotiation is the only viable way out.”

The news report said: “All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained in dealing with the nuclear issue and truly look at the future and destiny of themselves and humanity as a whole and work together to manage the crisis.

“There is no winner in a nuclear war.”