Ukraine's ambassador to Beijing told a China foreign minister that Kyiv remains "committed to the one-China principle," which denies Taiwan as a sovereign country and instead recognizes the multi-island territory as belonging to China.

Ukrainian envoy Pavlo Riabikin made the comments during a meeting with Chinese foreign vice minister Sun Weidong in Beijing on Monday.

"Ukraine attaches great importance to the development of relations with China, has consistently adhered to the one-China principle, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side," Riabikin said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.

Only 12 countries — 13 counting Vatican City — in the world recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country and Ukraine isn't one of them. Neither is the United States. However, Taiwan donated medical supplies to Ukraine in March 2022 and sent power generators in January to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion.

Further, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Washington Post in June 2022 that the international community should come to Taiwan's aid against Chinese aggression before Beijing attacks, saying, "we need a diplomatic resolution to support countries that are in need of help."

But on the other hand, Zelenskyy openly courts China to help mediate its close ally Russia in its invasion against Ukraine and post-war reconstruction, Breitbart reported. That courtship continued Monday in Beijing.

Sun acknowledged diplomatic ties between China and Ukraine that have been in place for 32 years, saying, "bilateral relations have been developing steadily on the whole."

"At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating. China and Ukraine should take a long-term view, respect each other and treat each other with sincerity to promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations," Sun told Riabikin, according to the readout.

The meeting between Riabikin and Sun took place the same day as a meeting in Moscow between another Chinese foreign vice minister, Ma Zhaoxu, and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov, the South China Morning Post reported.

Ma acknowledged the countries' 75 years of diplomatic ties.

"China is willing to work with Russia … to push forward new developments," according to the report.

Next up for Zelenskyy is his invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend a "peace summit" in Switzerland, at some point. No date or venue has been announced.

"China's participation will be very important to us. We are working with the Chinese side. We involve our partners in the world so that they convey to the Chinese side how important it is to participate in such a summit," top diplomatic adviser to Zelenskyy Ihor Zhovkva told Reuters last week.

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