Ukraine sends top diplomat to Beijing for talks on ending war

BEIJING Ukraine's foreign minister was in China on July 23 for talks on how officials there might help end the war with Russia, whose ties with Beijing have grown stronger since the conflict began.

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China presents itself as a neutral party in the war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

But its deepening "no limits" partnership with Russia has led Nato members to brand it a "decisive enabler" of Moscow's war, which Beijing has never condemned.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's visit until July 26 is his first trip to the country since the war began in February 2022.

Kyiv said Mr Kuleba's visit would focus on "ways to stop Russian aggression" as well as "China's possible role in achieving a sustainable and just peace".

Beijing said on July 23 that the talks would focus on "advancing China-Ukraine cooperation and other issues of common interest".