Chinese Envoy Concludes Visit to Ukraine as Part of European Tour

Chinese Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui, is set to conclude his two-day visit to Ukraine on Wednesday.

This visit marks the first stop on his European tour, which focuses on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite China’s close ties with Russia, it aims to position itself as a peacemaker in the war-torn region.

Although details of Li’s visit have been kept under wraps, a source within the Ukrainian government confirmed the Chinese envoy’s presence in Kyiv earlier this week. The visit is part of a broader five-country tour aimed at promoting communication for a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis.

China has been discreet about Li’s trip, and its Foreign Ministry has stated that information will be shared “in due course” when asked about the visit during press briefings. Li’s tour, starting on May 15, includes visits to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia, occurring just days before the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, where leaders are expected to express solidarity against Russia.

China’s portrayal of itself as a peace broker in the Ukraine conflict aims to counter criticism that it has not taken sufficient action to help resolve the war initiated by Russia. Li’s visit coincided with a heavy aerial assault by Russian forces on Kyiv, although most of the Russian munitions reportedly failed to hit their intended targets due to Ukraine’s defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently concluded his own tour of European countries, securing promises of fresh military aid from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Prior to Li’s visit, President Zelensky held a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which Xi pledged support for peace talks and expressed willingness to dispatch an envoy.

China’s close diplomatic and economic ties with Russia throughout the conflict have raised concerns in European capitals regarding China’s foreign policy. European Union Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell emphasized that the bloc’s relations with China would face obstacles if China does not exert pressure on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in the EU’s China strategy.