Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told high-ranking Chinese envoy Li Hui on Wednesday during talks the two men had in the Ukrainian capital that Kiev will not accept any proposal to end the war with Russia that involves the loss of Ukrainian territories or a freeze in the conflict; announced the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Li Hui, special envoy for Eurasian Affairs and former ambassador to Moscow, has been in Kiev since yesterday, on a visit expected by President Volodymyr Zelensky, bolstered by new promises to send Western arms, seeking to exert China’s influence on Russia. According to Beijing, the Chinese envoy is tasked with discussing a “political settlement” of the war during his European tour that will also take him to Poland, France, Germany and Russia.

The visit is the first in Kyiv by a high-ranking envoy from China, which has been developing ties with Russia since Moscow’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Beijing has avoided condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine or even talking about an “invasion”. Beijing’s stance has drawn criticism from European countries and the US, which question China’s credibility in its role as a potential mediator in the war.

Today the Chinese official met the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.

“Kuleba briefed the special envoy of the Chinese government in detail on the principles of restoring a sustainable and just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

“The (Ukrainian Foreign Minister) underlined that Ukraine does not accept any proposal entailing the loss of its territories or the freezing of the conflict,” the statement continued.

The Chinese official will travel to Warsaw on Friday.

From Paris, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonnade said Li Hui would be in Paris “early next week”. The head of French diplomacy reiterated Paris’ “unwavering support” to Kiev.