The Irish Times view on China talking to Ukraine: President Xi plays the long game

China's credentials as a potential peacemaker in the Ukraine war were set out by party leader Xi Xinping after speaking to President Volodymir Zelenskiy, who described their conversation as "long and meaningful". The Chinese side stressed its commitment to "mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity", correcting a diplomatic gaffe by its ambassador to France, who earlier compared Taiwan's claims to independence with those of Ukrainian Crimea, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from the former Soviet Union. The precise timing of Xi's initiative is probably related and could be a positive factor in any prospective peace negotiations. The Chinese are to…