The French president Emmanuel Macron and the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the course of their mission in Beijing they tear an important statement from Xi Jinping. The Chinese president said willing to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to talk about war but above all about peace. The reaction of Russia was immediate, reiterating that, for the moment, there are no prospects for a peaceful solution.
Xi Jinping held bilaterals with both Macron and von der Leyen, and then met them together in a trilateral held in the Great Hall of the People.
Macron to Xi: "Bring Russia back to reason"
The French president told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to "count on him" to "bring Russia back to reason“. Macron and the Chinese leader have called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible" and have said they are against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
On the Ukrainian crisis, China intends to "promote peace talks and a political solution", with Xi Jinping saying he is ready to collaborate with France to invite the international community to "maintain rational moderation and avoid taking actions" that could aggravate the crisis or “drive it out of control”. According to the Chinese president, "international humanitarian law must be strictly respected, refrain from attacking civilians and civilian structures and protect women, children and other victims of conflicts".
Xi, in particular, urged “to seriously implement the solemn promise not to use nuclear weapons and not to fight nuclear wars”. China's no also "to the use of biological and chemical weapons under any circumstances", but also "to armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities", he said. Finally, Xi spoke of cooperation "to address the spillover effects of the Ukrainian crisis in the food, energy, finance, transport and other fields", in order to "reduce the negative impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the world, especially on Developing countries".
The French president, for his part, asked Xi to do not deliver anything to Russia that it could be used in its war against Ukraine, a French diplomatic source said.
Xi: "Ready to call Zelensky"
The Chinese president told the Elysée tenant to be ready to call the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the right moment. And the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed at a press conference that she had encouraged President Xi Jinping to contact Zelensky. "It was interesting to hear - said the number one of the EU Commission - that President Xi reiterated his willingness to talk (with him) when the times and conditions are the most appropriate".
“With President Xi, I raised the issue of the threat of nuclear weapons in general and specifically our deep concern regarding the nuclear threat potentially positioned in Belarus. I was very clear on both issues. I think it is also very clear in the public statements about the proposed peace plan that China is heavily spending against the use not only of nuclear weapons but also the threat of nuclear weapons and on this point we are absolutely in agreement,” he added. the number one of the Community Executive.
Von der Leyen then bowled a warning to China: arms shipments from China to Russia "would significantly harm" relations between Brussels and Beijing, because "assisting an aggressor would be contrary to international law". China, he added, has a responsibility to use its influence vis-à-vis Russia and the EU "counts" on him to do so.
For Ukraine”we want a just peace to be restored” and for this “Russia needs to put an end to the invasion and withdraw its troops” from Ukrainian territory, concluded von der Leyen.
Moscow's reaction: “There are no prospects for a peaceful solution"
“China has very effective and impressive mediation potential, and Beijing's recent diplomatic successes have eloquently demonstrated this. But the situation with Ukraine is still difficult for now there are no prospects for a peaceful solution“Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
