Ukraine only had one phone conversation between Zelensky and Xi Jinping in April 2023, and only two high-level diplomatic visits by Ukrainians to China in 2024, which contrasts with frequent and general meetings of Chinese and Russian diplomats. This poses a clear challenge for Ukrainian diplomats, considering the significant strengthening of the alliance between China and Russia, which exerts substantial influence on current and future Chinese-Ukrainian relations. Ukraine's strategic partnership with the USA also demonstrates significant impact on the country's policies towards China, as well as the importance of Taiwan. It is assumed that a potential return of Trump to the presidency may influence Kyiv's strategic calculations regarding Moscow and Beijing. After the conclusion of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the approach of 'America in the first place,' defined by President Donald Trump, may lead to unprecedented interference or initiatives that disrupt the traditional diplomatic practices of Ukraine and its allies since February 2022. This is supported by China's and Brazil's proposal in May 2024, which was sharply criticized by Zelensky. It can be suggested that in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, China may mediate and demonstrate neutrality, which corresponds to its foreign policy while maintaining economic and strategic relations with Russia, Ukraine, and the West, ultimately reinforcing the influence of the USA. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's main priority at this moment is to ensure security with the support of the USA, as well as the desire to convene with Trump to discuss ongoing agreements. Receiving guarantees from the United States could be a key moment influencing subsequent steps in the war and the broader political course of Ukraine's foreign policy. A professor-guest from the University of Northern Norway, Dr. Vita Gold, noted that the strengthening of the alliance between China and Russia significantly indicates the context of Chinese-Ukrainian relations, while Ukraine's strategic partnership with the USA outlines its policy toward China. Gold remarked that the Ukrainian diplomatic approach to Beijing concentrates on maintaining political dialogue and open channels of communication, describing Chinese-Ukrainian relations since the start of the Russian war as a 'diplomatic drama.'
