Chinese President Xi welcomes Belarussian leader Lukashenko as countries hail partnership

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing, March 1, 2023.BELTA/Reuters After China put forward a proposal to end the war in Ukraine, that country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he would welcome a meeting to discuss it with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two men have not spoken since Russia launched its invasion over a year ago, even as Mr. Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times. So far, Mr. Zelenksy's entreaties have gone wanting. Instead, Mr. Xi on Wednesday hosted Belarusian leader — and key Putin ally — Alexander…