Cleverly says he would welcome Xi Jinping role in Ukraine-Russia peace process

The Foreign Secretary also urged the West to stand by Kyiv even if its spring offensive fails to make a decisive breakthrough.

The Foreign Secretary said he would not complain if Chinese president Xi Jinping used his influence with Russian president Vladimir Putin to sue for peace in Ukraine (Matt Cardy/PA) (PA Archive)

The UK would welcome an intervention by Chinese president Xi Jinping to help broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, according to the Foreign Secretary.

Speaking during a visit to the US, James Cleverly said Britain would not be critical if Mr Xi chose to use his “significant degree of influence” with Russian president Vladimir Putin to bring about a “just and sustainable” peace settlement.

The Cabinet minister also warned the West that it had to be ready for the expected spring offensive by Kyiv to fail to make a decisive breakthrough against Russia’s troops.