MOSCOW: Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly expressed his willingness to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday.
A French diplomat who attended the meeting revealed this information, adding that Macron had urged Xi not to provide any military aid to Russia for use in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Western nations have been closely monitoring China’s actions and potential involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. There have been concerns that China could supply weapons and military equipment to Russia, which is facing sanctions from Western countries for its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and alleged involvement in the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine.
China has so far maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, calling for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiation. However, some experts believe that China may see an opportunity to expand its influence in the region by offering military support to Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to “bring Russia to its senses” over the ongoing Ukraine conflict and refrain from providing weapons to Moscow.
French President’s visit to China
Macron is on a three-day state visit to China and is seeking to persuade Beijing to support peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. During their meeting, Xi expressed his willingness to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when the time comes.
In a joint statement, the two leaders called for peace talks to be held “as soon as possible” and reaffirmed their opposition to the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict. Macron has said that China can play a “major role” in finding a path to peace in the conflict, but Moscow has insisted that there are no prospects for a political settlement at present.
The visit comes amid increasing pressure on China to help push for peace in Ukraine and with Taiwan tensions rising. The trip also has an important economic component, with Macron and more than 50 French business leaders seeking to firm up a crucial trade partnership with China.
Xi’s readiness to speak with Zelensky could be seen as a positive development, as it indicates that China is willing to engage with Ukraine on the issue. However, it remains to be seen whether this will translate into concrete actions to help resolve the conflict.
Ukraine has been a major tension between Russia and Western countries, with the conflict entering its eighth year and claiming over 13,000 lives. The recent escalation of hostilities has raised concerns about the possibility of a wider conflict, with Ukraine and its allies calling on Russia to withdraw its troops and de-escalate the situation.
As the world watches developments in Ukraine closely, the role of China in the conflict will be closely scrutinized by Western nations and Ukraine’s allies.
