China presents itself as a neutral party in the war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

But China is a close political and economic ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war.

News agency Xinhua said on Wednesday the pair held talks in the city of Guangzhou, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning telling journalists the pair "exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis".

"Although the conditions and timing are not yet mature, we support all efforts that contribute to peace and are willing to continue to play a constructive role for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks," she said.

"China has always been firmly committed to promoting a political solution to the crisis," she added.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kuleba said Ukraine "also wants to follow the path of peace, recovery, and development".

"I am convinced that these are the strategic priorities that we share," he said, adding "Russian aggression has destroyed peace and slowed down development".

Kuleba is the first senior Ukrainian official to visit China since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

His trip is scheduled to last until Friday.

 'Political settlement'

China has sought to paint itself as a mediator in the war, sending envoy Li Hui to Europe on multiple rounds of "shuttle diplomacy".

President Xi Jinping told Hungary's Viktor Orban this month that world powers should help Russia and Ukraine restart direct negotiations.

Orban's visit to Beijing was branded as a "peace mission". China also released a paper last year calling for a "political settlement" to the conflict.

However, it was criticised by Western countries for enabling Russia to retain much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine.

Beijing has rebuffed claims it is supporting Russia's war effort, insisting last week that its position was "open and above board" and accusing the West of fuelling the conflict through arms shipments to Kyiv.

China did not attend a peace summit in Switzerland last month in protest against Moscow not being invited.