Next week, a Chinese special envoy will travel to Ukraine, Russia and several European countries to discuss “a political solution” to the war. It will be a tough nut to crack.

There have long been certain hopes that China can help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. It is especially China’s relatively close relations with Russia that can make such a development possible.

But this will require that China is also in dialogue with the other party, namely Ukraine.

To find the solution, China wants to visit Ukraine in particular, in addition to a number of other countries.

NTB-AFP reports on the case on Friday.

Ambassador Li Hui will visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to communicate with all parties about a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis, says spokesman Wang Wenbin in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Li is the Chinese government’s special envoy for Eurasian issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has never condemned Russia’s invasion, with China trying to portray itself as a neutral party. The country has long advocated what it calls “peaceful dialogue” to end the war.

But it is unclear what such a dialogue will deliver. There are in principle only two solutions:

Either that Russia keeps all or part of the areas in Ukraine they have occupied. Or that Russia withdraws completely from the neighbouring country they have attacked.

There are also questions relating to who will pay for the massive reconstruction of destroyed cities and towns in Ukraine, as well as the question of legal settlement in the wake of the war crimes that have been committed.

China will likely have a rather tough challenge to land any agreement here, at least as the situation is as of today.