Chinese state TV says Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, that Moscow is willing to negotiate with Ukraine, even as Moscow's forces invade its neighbour.
The report Friday followed a Kremlin announcement that Putin's government was considering an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate non-aligned status for his country, reports AP.
Putin said Moscow "is willing to conduct high-level negotiations with the Ukrainian side," China Central Television reported on its website.
It gave no indication whether Putin said he was responding to Zelenskyy's offer or gave any details of what the two sides might negotiate.
Russia complains that the United States and its allies ignored Moscow's "legitimate security concerns" by expanding the NATO military alliance eastward, closer to Russia's borders.
Xi said China "supports Russia and Ukraine resolving the problem through negotiations," CCTV said.
