Kyiv does not want China to act as an intermediary, but hopes that Beijing will put more pressure on Moscow to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during an interview with French journalists on Wednesday.

"If China wants to, it can force Russia to stop this war. I do not want (China) to act as a mediator. I would like it to put pressure on Russia to put an end to this war. Just as the United States is applying pressure, just as the European Union is applying pressure," the Ukrainian president said. The full video of the meeting with journalists was published on YouTube on Thursday.

"The more influence a country has, the greater should be its pressure on Russia. It seems to me that then there will be a result. A quick one. There is no need to take a mediator's position in a war when there is an aggressor. I do not think that this is a strong position. And that is why I would like China to have a strong position in this war, so that they stop the Russians," Zelenskyy emphasized.

"We do not need anything extra. We do not need additional support. This should be based on international law. I would very much like China to have such a principled position," the Ukrainian president added.

Zelenskyy also stated that, although Ukraine insists on restoring its post-Soviet borders of 1991, it will consider the possibility of starting negotiations with Russia before all Moscow troops are withdrawn, if suitable conditions are created for this.

"Today we are standing at the front, as long as Russia wants to fight, a plan will be ready, we will have a strong position, the majority of countries will agree with this plan, and this plan will be on the table. And then we can resolve these issues diplomatically, if Russia wants," the president said.