France’s Macron pressures China’s Xi to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Xi has called Putin a “dear friend”, their nations have declared a “no-limits” partnership, and Beijing has refrained from criticizing Russia’s invasion.
“The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability,” Macron told Xi before meeting with the Chinese president outside the Great Hall of the People. “I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to reason and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.”
A French diplomatic source said Macron had also urged China not to provide arms to Russia.
Von der Leyen said the EU hoped China would promote a peace that respected Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.
There are currently no talks aimed at ending the war, and Putin’s adviser Dmitry Suslov was quoted as saying there was “zero” chance of peace talks taking place in 2023.
Suslov, speaking to Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on Thursday, said Ukraine’s retaliation was likely to focus on the Sea of Azov and cutting off the Crimean peninsula – annexed by Moscow in 2014 – but reduced its chances. Success.
An adviser to Zelensky suggested that Kiev could discuss the future of the Black Sea peninsula if its forces reached the border with Crimea. However, a top Ukrainian official later ruled out talks about the territory until all Moscow troops were withdrawn.