Macron and Xi call for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine

The two leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping, held discussions in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping opposed the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine on Thursday. The two leaders, debating in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible".

The French president said China and France had a "sincere and constructive" discussion discussing the conflict and their bilateral relations. Macron called on Jin, who was warmly welcomed by Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, to "bring Russia to its senses" and support the establishment of "lasting peace" in Ukraine.

"We must find lasting peace," Macron said. "I believe it is also an important topic for China, as well as for France and for Europe." Adding to it Macron said "I know I can count on you, according to the two principles I just mentioned, to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table,"

Macron cited China's support for both nuclear deals and the UN Charter, which requires respect for the country's territorial integrity. He argued that the peace and stability based on them were threatened by the Russian president's invasion of Ukraine.

"Europe's security architecture has been impossible as long as Ukraine is occupied and one UN security member has violated the UN Charter, which is unacceptable,"

 Macron said at a joint media conference in Beijing. Before the February 2022 attack, the Chinese government had declared "unrestricted friendship" with Russia, although it tried to create an air of neutrality. Beijing issued a call for peace talks.

"China has always taken an objective and fair stance on the issue of the Ukraine crisis," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning. "We have been a supporter of a political solution to the crisis and a promoter of peace talks," Ning added.