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War in Ukraine: Macron meets Xi Jinping and asks him to “make Russia see reason”

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French president Emmanuel Macronvisiting Beijing, he told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that he “counts” on him to “bring Russia to its senses” regarding the conflict in Ukraine, in which both have called for peace negotiations “as soon as possible”.

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Macron arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day visit, clearly stating that his goal is to dissuade Beijing from supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

“I know I can count on you to make Russia think and bring the whole world to the negotiating table,” the French president said during a bilateral meeting with Xi.

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"I know I can count on you to reason with Russia and bring the whole world to the negotiating table," Macron said.  Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

“I know I can count on you to reason with Russia and bring the whole world to the negotiating table,” Macron said. Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

In a joint statement to the press following that closed-door meeting, the two leaders reiterated their call for peace talks between Kiev and Moscow “as soon as possible”.

“You can’t use nuclear weapons”

Both also reiterated his opposition to the use of nuclear weapons in contention.

“Nuclear weapons cannot be used,” said the Chinese president, who condemned attacks on civilians and any “use of biological and chemical weapons.”

"Nuclear weapons cannot be used," the Chinese president said.  Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

“Nuclear weapons cannot be used,” the Chinese president said. Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

The Kremlin instead cooled the situationexcluding the possibility of Chinese mediation despite the strategic relationship between the two powers.

“Of course, China has huge and effective potential in terms of mediation services,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

“But the situation with Ukraine is complexand for the moment there is no prospect of a political solution”, so “we have no other solution than continue with the special operation“, he added, using the expression that the Russian authorities use to describe the offensive in Ukraine.

After the statements to the press, Macron and Xi started a trilateral meeting with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

In recent weeks, international pressure has increased for China, a strategic ally of Russia, to be involved in resolving the conflict.

Macron and Xi have started a trilateral meeting with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.  Photo: REUTERS

Macron and Xi have started a trilateral meeting with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: REUTERS

Although Beijing officially declares itself neutral, he did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine nor Xi Jinping spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Instead, Xi personally traveled to Moscow in March to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, to whom he presented a 12-point political settlement document that Beijing released in February.

“On the Chinese side, what we have at the moment are absolutely classic claims,” ​​said analyst Antoine Bondaz of the French Foundation for Strategic Research.

“It’s clear that China has not moved. The goal is for China to do what you say, but that’s not the case at the moment,” she added.

On the first day of his visit, the French president estimated on Wednesday that Beijing could play “an important role” in finding “a way to peace” in Ukraine and referred to the document released by China.

On your side, von der Leyen it was more serious last week in Brussels and warned that China’s position on the war will be a “determining factor” in the future of its relations with the EU.

Macron's visit coincides with the meeting in California between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and the head of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.  Photo: EFE

Macron’s visit coincides with the meeting in California between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and the head of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. Photo: EFE

The visit of Macron and Von der Leyen coincides with a new period of tension around Taiwan after the meeting in California between the president of the island, Tsai Ing-wenwith the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.

On Thursday, Beijing promised “firm measures” before this meeting and the autonomous island announced the takeover of three warships and a Chinese anti-submarine helicopter nearby.

China considers Taiwan as part of its territory e is willing to take back control, even with force. The authorities of him refuse any contact between the island authorities with other countries.

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Source: Clarin

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