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They meet virtually. Xi gets right to the point.
Xi — The suffering must stop. The loss of both Ukrainians and Russians must come to an end,
Please hear me out.
China is willing to commit whatever resources to rebuild your nation. In just a few years Ukraine will be the envy of the world. But you must agree to give up territory.
Zelensky — I will not.
Xi — I understand the pain you’ve gone through. But look at how long it takes for the West to give you what you need. And they have not stood up to Putin and said to him, ‘stop firing your missiles from behind your borders.’
Zelensky — That has been painful.
Xi — Putin is all in on this. He will not back out. It’s victory or death.
Zelensky — There will be no victory… so it will be death.
Xi — The West will not commit fully to your effort. How many more Ukrainians will die?
Zelensky lowers his head.
Xi — But if you agree to let him have some of the territory they have conquered, we can come to an understanding where I would assure you the integrity of your nation from here on out. You will never again be attacked. Never again be invaded.
And we can add that Putin return all the Ukrainian…
