Emmanuel Macron calls on Xi Jinping to “bring Russia to its senses”

“We need to find a lasting peace.” During an interview in Beijing, Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday April 6 to “bring Russia to its senses” vis-à-vis Ukraine. “I know I can count on you to (…) bring everyone back to the negotiating table”said the French president during a face-to-face meeting at the People’s Palace.

Emmanuel Macron also “urged Xi Jinping not to deliver anything to Russia that would serve its war against Ukraine”, reported to several media, including France Télévisions, a French diplomat who attended the meetings between the two heads of state. Western countries fear that China, an ally of Moscow, will supply arms to the Russians. That “would significantly harm” to the EU-China relationship, for his part warned Ursula von der Leyen. The President of the European Commission accompanies Emmanuel Macron on his trip.

Xi Jinping for his part pleaded for “a resumption of peace talks as soon as possible”. “Nuclear weapons cannot be used”underlined the Chinese head of state who condemned any “attack on civilians” as well as everything “use of biological and chemical weapons”. “In this regard, everyone must be reminded of their duties, in particular Russia, which announced the other day that it wanted to deploy such weapons in Belarus. [nucléaires]”, “which is not in accordance with the commitments made to you, to us and to international law”added the French president, in statements to the press.