China’s Xi Sends Independence Day Message to Ukraine in First Public Greeting Since 2022 Invasion

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of congratulations to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day — the first public greeting from Beijing since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Xi’s message, posted by Zelensky on social media, acknowledged over three decades of diplomatic relations between China and Ukraine, and highlighted areas of successful cooperation.

“Over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Ukraine relations have developed steadily, and cooperation in various fields has yielded remarkable results,” Xi wrote.

The statement marks a notable shift in tone from Beijing, which has maintained a careful diplomatic balancing act since the beginning of the war — publicly supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity while deepening its strategic partnership with Moscow.

The message comes amid growing international efforts to push for renewed peace negotiations and increased engagement from non-Western powers. It is unclear whether Xi’s gesture signals a broader policy recalibration or is intended as a symbolic gesture in light of Ukraine’s national holiday.

Ukraine celebrated 34 years of independence on Sunday, with President Zelensky emphasizing national unity and resilience in a televised address from Kyiv.

Zelensky has previously called on China to play a more active role in peace efforts, though Beijing has so far refrained from taking a mediating role.