A top Chinese envoy began a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European countries on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a “political settlement” to the Ukraine crisis. Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will also visit Poland, France, Germany on the multi-day trip, the foreign ministry announced without providing a detailed schedule. Li is due to visit Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Ukrainian government official told Reuters, declining to provide further details. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the specifics Li’s itinerary would be released in due course. (https://neuters.de/world/europe/top-chinese-envoy-visit-ukraine-russia-peace-mission-2023-05-15/) The visit comes weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in late April, in the first talks between the two leaders since the war began. Zelenskiy described the call as “long and meaningful” on Twitter, while Xi said China would focus on promoting peace, although Beijing’s proposals to end the conflict have been met with some skepticism in the West given its ties with Russia. Since February, Beijing has promoted a 12-point proposal for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.