UK PM Johnson held call with Chinese president about Ukraine - spokesman

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs the Joint Expeditionary Force leaders meeting, a coalition of 10 states focused on security in northern Europe, at Lancaster House in London, Britain March 15, 2022. Justin Tallis/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the situation in Ukraine, Johnson's spokesman said on Friday, as Western leaders call on China to refrain from supporting Russia in its invasion.

"This morning the prime minister has spoken to the president of China on the ongoing situation in Ukraine," the spokesman said, adding the call lasted about 50 minutes.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Elizabeth Piper)