BEIJING (Reuters) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to “bring Russia to its senses,” but Xi gave no indication Beijing would use its leverage as Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic partner to press for a settlement.
Xi gave no sign China, which declared it had a “no limits friendship” with Moscow before last year’s invasion, had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February.
“Peace talks should resume as soon as possible,” Xi said. He called on other governments to avoid doing anything that might “make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control.”
Beijing, which sees Moscow as a partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has tried to appear neutral in the conflict but has given Putin diplomatic support and repeated Russian justifications for the February 2022 attack. Xi received an effusive welcome from Putin when he visited Moscow last month, giving the isolated Russian president a political boost. At previous talks, Macron urged President Xi Jinping to “bring Russia back to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.”
Macron cited China’s support for the United Nations Charter, which calls for respecting the country’s territorial integrity. He said Putin’s announcement of plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus violated international agreements and promises to the Xi Jinping government.
“We have to find a lasting peace. I think this is also an important issue for China,” the French president said.
Macron accompanied European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Beijing in a show of European unity.
Von der Leyen said he urged Xi to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying the Chinese leader “reiterated that he is ready to speak when the situation and the time are right”. .
“I think that’s the positive side,” said von der Leyen. Von der Leyen urged China against sending military equipment to Russia, echoing Wednesday’s warning from the governments of NATO’s 31 member states that there would be “serious consequences” for arms and ammunition supplies.
“Giving attackers weapons clearly violates international law,” said von der Leyen. “This will indeed have a significant impact on relations between the European Union and China.”
China is Russia’s biggest buyer of oil and gas and underpins Kremlin revenues amid Western sanctions. That would increase China’s influence, but Xi seems reluctant to put pressure on Putin and jeopardize that partnership.
“China has always taken an objective and fair stance on the issue of the Ukraine crisis,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said. “We have advocated for a political solution to the crisis and promoted peace talks.”
Also on Wednesday, the French and Chinese governments announced an agreement involving the purchase of 160 Airbus aircraft by a Chinese leasing company, working together to develop nuclear, solar, wind and biofuels.
