National flags of China, Ukraine (Photo: VCG)

Chinese President Xi Jinping talked to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone on Wednesday. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis.

Leaders and politicians across the world spoke highly on China's role as a peacebroker and its efforts to facilitate dialogue.

Here are reactions to the call.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy

In a note published on his Twitter profile, the Ukrainian president said he had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. He believed the call, and the appointment of the Ukrainian Ambassador to China, would give a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations.

President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak

On Monday President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said the government has been seeking out Xi's ear, according to US-based National Public Radio.

"We appealed to China and presented President Zelenskyy's peace plan," Yermak said. "We were looking for contact between President Zelenskyy and President Xi because we thought it was the best way to listen, personally, between our presidents."

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Moscow has taken notice of China’s willingness to facilitate negotiations with Ukraine following the phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We note the readiness of the Chinese side to make efforts to establish the negotiation process," Zakharova was quoted as saying by CNN.

Russian State Duma deputy Dmitry Novikov

"In Beijing people think systematically because they understand that the Ukrainian conflict is part of the complex problems of the modern world," Novikov was quoted as saying by Russian-language online newspaper Lenta.ru. "This means that this situation needs to be addressed comprehensively."

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby

"That's a good thing," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, according to Reuters.

Elysee Palace

France "encourages all dialogue that contributes to a resolution of the conflict in accordance with the fundamental interests of Ukraine and international law," the Elysee Palace was quoted as saying by AFP.

The Elysee said this was the same message French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed to his Chinese counterpart during his visit to Beijing earlier this month.

EU

The European Commission called it "important and long overdue."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the development in comments during a visit to Colombia.

"It's a first step, but it's an important first step," he was quoted as saying by AFP. "It is very important that China talks with Ukraine, I want to remind you that we all want peace.”

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto

The Finnish president retweeted Zelenskyy's announcement of the call and said "good news."

Chinese experts

Undoubtedly this call means a lot and can be regarded as an important link in a series of actions by the Chinese government to promote the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, said Cui Hongjian, director of the China Institute of International Studies' European studies department in Beijing.

China's commitment to helping achieve peace was reflected by President Xi's visit to Russia at the beginning of the year, the reception of leaders such as Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing, and the phone call with Zelenskyy, he said.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Beijing-based institute of international affairs at Renmin University of China, said, "All the parties were looking forward to the conversation. It shows China's responsibility as a major country."