Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, Reuters has reported.
"He is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and his trip could coincide with the beginnings of a long-anticipated counteroffensive by Ukraine to recapture territory seized by Russia," the agency noted.
Li will visit Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Ukrainian government official told Reuters on Monday, declining to provide further details. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the specifics Li's itinerary would be released in due course.
It should be noted that throughout the war, China refrained from condemning its strategic ally Moscow and did not call Russia's actions an invasion. This led to criticism from European countries and the United States, which questioned China's ability to become a potential mediator in the conflict.
Whatever message Li delivers will be carefully scrutinised given the unease among Western nations over Xi's meeting with his "dear friend" Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, and the two countries' commitment to a "no limits" partnership less than three weeks before the invasion, which Moscow called a "special military operation".