After French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to “bring Russia to its senses,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for peace talks over Ukraine on Thursday. However, Xi made no indication that Beijing would use its influence as Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic ally to push for a settlement.
Xi made no gesture. China had altered its position since calling for peace talks in February, reversing its previous declaration that it had a “no limits friendship” with Moscow prior to last year’s invasion. “Peace talks should resume as soon as possible,” Xi averred. He urged other countries to refrain from taking any actions that “make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control.”
Beijing, which views Moscow as a partner in battling American dominance of international affairs, has made an effort to appear impartial in the conflict but has offered Putin diplomatic support and reiterated Russia’s justifications for the assault in February 2022. When Xi arrived in Moscow last month, Putin gave him a warm greeting, which helped the politically isolated Russian leader.
Macron cited China’s adherence to the UN Charter, which demands regard for a nation’s territorial integrity. According to him, Putin betrayed his commitments to Xi’s government and international deals by announcing his intention to station nuclear weapons in Belarus.
“We need to find a lasting peace,” the French president stated. “I believe that this is also an important issue for China.”
According to von der Leyen, Xi called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after she urged him to do so, and he “reiterated his willingness to speak when circumstances and time are right.”
“I think this is a positive element,” von der Leyen averred.
“Arming the aggressor is a clear violation of international law,” von der Leyen added. “This would indeed significantly harm the relationship between the European Union and China.”
“China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis,” mentioned a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning. “We have been an advocate of a political solution to the crisis and a promoter of peace talks.”
