Xi won't alter his stance, according to Macron - Politico

The French President Emmanuel Macron has been trying to push China to side against Russia in Ukraine, but to little effect. Xi Jinping responded by saying China was willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm, and repeated Beijing’s position on the conflict. Macron broke protocol by speaking almost twice as long as Xi, and veered into demands that China condemn “the war waged by Russia against Ukraine.” Xi “looked impatient and annoyed” as Macron spoke, and “heaved several deep sighs” when Ukraine came up. The French president announced a trip to China just after Xi spent three days in Moscow, signing agreements with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, problems piled up at home for Macron, including a sanitation workers’ strike and protests against retirement reform.

Macron is scheduled to travel with Xi to Guangzhou on Friday for more talks and a private dinner. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Xi on Thursday but was not included in many of the bilateral meetings. Von der Leyen argued that providing weapons to Russia would harm the relationship between the EU and China, and that Brussels expects Beijing to play its role and promote a just peace.