China does not want Ukraine-Russia war to end, why Li Qiang refused to meet Zelensky in Davos

China has made its intentions clear on Ukraine – Beijing does not want the war with Russia to end. Although they did not say it directly, but according to reports, the Chinese side refused to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Davos, Switzerland. This contempt has come at a time when Ukraine has long been trying to somehow arrange a face-to-face meeting with high-ranking Chinese officials. Politico reported that although there were opportunities when such talks could have taken place in Davos, the Chinese side had no interest in it.

The news outlet quoted a US official with knowledge of the matters as saying that the meeting stalled not because of any scheduling problem but because Beijing flatly rejected all of Kyiv’s overtures for the meeting. Politico cited another US official as saying that Moscow’s request to halt any and all diplomatic engagement with Ukraine was blamed for the Chinese retaliation.

However, news outlets also mentioned the Ukraine version of events. Kiev said it never sought to sit down with Chinese Prime Minister Li Kiang. Meanwhile, Zelensky hit back at reports of a Chinese rebellion. Reportedly, the Ukrainian president feels that Chinese President Xi Jinping, and not his deputy Li Qiang, is the appropriate diplomatic level at which he would like to take things forward. Li Qiang is not at his level, basically Zelensky tried to save face in a way.