China-EU relations: Xi and Macron call for de-escalation in Ukraine war as French leader says ‘I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses’
- EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who travelled to Beijing with the French president, says the conflict is ‘crucial’ to the bloc’s relations with China
- The Chinese leader also urged Europe to maintain its strategic autonomy amid a debate among its leaders over whether to follow the hardline US stance on Beijing
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French and EU leaders visit China to discuss trade and the Russia-Ukraine war
The French leader, in turn, urged China to use its influence over Russia: “I know I can count on you … to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table,” Macron said.
“We need to find a lasting peace … a peace that respects internationally recognised borders and that avoids any form of escalation. And I believe that it is also an important question for China, as much as it is for France and for Europe. This peace, this stability, is what we are trying to work towards.”
The pair held further talks on the issue during a three-way meeting with von der Leyen, who said Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
China’s ties with Russia have cast a long shadow over its relationship with the European Union, along with other issues ranging from supply chain disruptions and tit-for-tat sanctions over alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang.
Beijing has denied claims that it is considering arming Russia and Macron said that he believed it was not in China’s interests to do so.