Macron asks the Chinese president to talk to Putin about the war in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron today asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to intervene with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in order to convince him to stop the “escalation” in Ukraine and return to the “negotiating table”, announced the Élysée.

“The President of the Republic has asked China to help convey messages to President Putin in order to avoid escalation and seriously return to the negotiating table,” the French presidency’s services said.

Mr Xi, for his part, expressed his “support for European mediation efforts”, especially those of the French president, and “reiterated his strong opposition to the use of nuclear weapons” by Russia on Ukrainian soil, always according to the Elysee .

“He also reaffirmed his support for de-escalation, the declaration of a ceasefire and his will to end this conflict,” added the French presidency.

In Paris’s view, “the lines are beginning to shift” with China as Beijing seeks “balance” regarding the war in Ukraine, AFP reports and the Athens News Agency reports.

“THE Xi Jinping he clearly said that this complicated situation must be dealt with urgently,” said an adviser to the French president.

At the same time, the two leaders expressed their will to “move forward” on many issues of bilateral interest, ranging from the agri-food sector to the aeronautical industry, according to the same img.

Mr Macron would like to visit China in early 2023, if epidemiological conditions permit, given Beijing’s “zero COVID” policy, the Elysee said.

As the meeting of the two leaders began in Bali, on the sidelines of the G20, Mr Emmanuel Macron called on Mr. Xi for the two countries to “join forces” against the war in Ukraine, stressing that global “stability” is also in China’s “interest”.

China has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, and remains reluctant, like many countries in the so-called global South, including Indonesia, to criticize Moscow.