French, Chinese leaders plot how to end Ukraine war in Beijing

Photo: Macron (left) with Xi (middle). With them is European Commission strongwoman Ursula.

French leader Emmanuel Macron has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table,” he told Mr Xi in Beijing.

Mr Xi said China and France had the “ability and responsibility” to safeguard world peace.

But Moscow said there were “no prospects for a peaceful settlement” so far and its offensive would continue.

Mr Macron is on a state visit to China that is being highly scrutinised after years of deteriorating relations between the West and China, which has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Macron is also seeking to bolster trade ties. He is joined by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who he invited to take part in talks with the Chinese leadership, as well as a large business delegation.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr Macron was treated to an elaborate military parade in Beijing, before entering closed-door talks with Mr Xi, which Chinese and French officials described as “frank” and “friendly”.