A Chinese special envoy will arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit on Tuesday, as part of a European tour to work on Beijing-led peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian government official said high-ranking diplomat Li Hui "will be in Kyiv May 16 and 17".

Li, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will be visiting Ukraine, Russia and other European cities in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukrainian official declined to provide further details.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Britain on Monday to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who pledged "hundreds" of both air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones to fend off Russia's military.

Zelensky's arrival, confirmed by the UK government, comes after he secured fresh promises of military aid during weekend visits to France and Germany ahead of a widely expected counter-offensive against Russia. (AFP/Reuters)