Zelensky holds phone call with China's Xi Jinping

President Volodymyr Zelensky talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 26 for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Zelensky tweeted that he hopes the "long and meaningful phone call" and the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China will "give a powerful impetus" to the development of the countries' relations.

On the same day, Zelensky appointed Pavlo Riabikin, the former minister of strategic industries, as the new ambassador. Before heading Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries in 2021-2023, Riabikin managed the State Customs Service and Boryspil Airport. Ukraine's previous ambassador to China, Serhii Kamyshev, died on Feb. 14, 2022.

Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying also reported the conversation, adding that it had been initiated by the Ukrainian side.