Editor’s note for April 26, 2023

Dear reader: 

More than a year ago, shortly after Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, speculation began that  Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 would call Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It never happened. 

So why did Xi call Zelenskyy today?

We’ll likely never know, but the most obvious explanation is that Xi had to do cleanup after last Friday’s TV interview by the Chinese ambassador to France, Lú Shāyě 卢沙野, during which Lu suggested that Ukraine and other former Soviet republics were not actually countries. Lu’s remarks caused fury across Europe, and provoked suspicions that Beijing’s political classes see former U.S.S.R. states in the same way they see Taiwan: breakaway provinces that need to be brought back into the fold. 

Xi emphasized his respect for the concept of sovereignty in the call, judging by the readouts. And Zelenskyy was gracious — a wise attitude given Ukraine’s need for powerful friends right now. 

But it’s hard not to be cynical about the promises Xi is reported to have made during the call: 

We will neither watch the fire from across the river nor pour oil on the fire, nor will we underhandedly take advantage of the opportunity for our own interest.

我们既不会隔岸观火，也不会拱火浇油，更不干趁机牟利的事。 

wǒmen jì bù huì gé’ànguānhuǒ, yě bù huì gǒng huǒ jiāo yóu, gèng bù gān chènjī móulì de shì.

That’s our word of the day. Scroll down for a short report on the Xi-Zelenskyy call, or click through for the whole thing.