China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping has spoken out in favor of new negotiations in the Ukraine conflict. After talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing, Xi Jinping reiterated China’s position on exercising restraint and avoiding anything that could aggravate the situation or spiral it out of control.
Attacks on civilians or civilian facilities should be avoided. Russia has been waging a war of aggression against the neighboring country for more than a year.
After meeting Macron, Xi Jinping recalled pledges not to use nuclear weapons. Under all circumstances, the use of biological and chemical weapons and attacks on civilian nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants must be rejected. In his statement, the head of state and party leader largely repeated a Chinese position paper. He reiterated that “legitimate security interests of all parties” must be taken into account, with Beijing supporting the Russian argument.
Macron is hoping for Chinese pressure on Moscow
Macron hopes for Chinese pressure on Russia. “I know that I can count on you (…) to bring Russia to their senses and bring everyone to the negotiating table,” he said, according to the Elysee Palace. Russian aggression in Ukraine dealt a blow to world stability.
The aim is a lasting peace, said the President afterwards in a press conference. “This is a peace that cannot be achieved without respect from the Ukrainian people, who are the people under attack. And not without a gesture from Russia.” The point is to start a serious discussion with everyone, especially Russia, in the near future, so that Russia respects principles that China and France also share.
“We don’t just want the end of the conflict, we want respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. That is the condition of a lasting peace. And on the one hand we want there to be no short-term escalation and on the other hand we want to enable lasting stability.”
