China asked Ukraine not to strike Vladivostok during vice premier's visit - Kyodo
China asked Ukraine to temporarily refrain from strikes on Vladivostok in the Russian Far East while a high-ranking Chinese delegation was there. Kyiv agreed to this request, reported Japan's Kyodo news agency, citing informed sources.
According to the agency, Beijing's request was related to the safety of the delegation led by Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and is considered the sixth-ranking Chinese leader.
Ding Xuexiang was in Russia from September 2 to 4 and took part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The Chinese Foreign Ministry officially reported that during the trip he was also to hold meetings of the Chinese-Russian commissions on investment and energy cooperation. In Vladivostok, the vice premier, in particular, met with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky previously spoke of such a request, but did not name China
Kyodo's report aligns with a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made on the eve of the Chinese official's trip.
Zelensky said that Kyiv was approached by "another global power" with a request to suspend strikes in the direction of Vladivostok for a specified period. According to him, Ukraine agreed to comply with this request.
The president did not name the country that made the request to Kyiv at the time. Kyodo, citing its sources, asserts that it was China.
Zelensky also said that earlier, at the request of the United States, Ukraine refrained from strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg on August 25, 26, and 27. He stated that Kyiv is ready to agree to such restrictions for specified periods and routes when diplomatic contacts of partners require it.
China feared for the safety of its delegation
According to Kyodo, the main goal of Beijing's request was to ensure the safety of Ding Xuexiang and other members of the Chinese delegation during the forum.
Vladivostok is located more than 6,500 km from Ukraine. However, after Operation "Web," during which Ukrainian drones attacked Russian military airfields at a great distance from the Ukrainian border, the possibility of strikes on distant areas of Russia began to be taken into account during international events.
Kyodo suggests that Kyiv may have agreed to the Chinese request also in view of Beijing's potential role in future diplomatic efforts to end the war. However, this is an assessment by the agency's sources, not an officially stated reason for Ukraine's decision.
China itself has not publicly confirmed that it made such a request to Kyiv. Beijing officially reported only on Ding Xuexiang's trip and his participation in Russian-Chinese negotiations and the Eastern Economic Forum.
Sources: Kyodo News, Office of the President of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
