Chinese President Xi Jinping shows no sign of changing his position over Russia’s war on Ukraine after talks with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. There is still a chance for a phone call between the Chinese leader and Ukraine’s Zelenskyi. More than 50 countries denounce remarks by Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights indicted for war crimes as she addresses a UN Security Council meeting.
Macron fails to move Xi Jinping over Russia’s war on Ukraine, Politico says
Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no sign of changing his position over Russia’s war on Ukraine after talks Thursday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, according to an article by Politico.
On the second day of Macron’s state visit to China, Xi took his long-standing line on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — saying that “all sides” have “reasonable security concerns” — and gave no hint he would use his influence to help end the conflict.
“China is willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm,” was as far as the Chinese leader would go during a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“Peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible, taking into account the reasonable security concerns of all sides with reference to the U.N. Charter … seeking political resolution and constructing a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework,” he added, sitting next to Macron.
The French president arrived in China on Wednesday in the hope of pushing China to use its leverage with Russia to end the conflict, and to get Beijing to speak out against the Kremlin’s threat to host nuclear missiles in Belarus.
The talks — which an Elysée Palace official nonetheless described as “frank and constructive” — ultimately lasted an hour and a half. Afterward, the action moved to a signing ceremony, where officials and business leaders inked several deals, including the sale of 160 Airbus aircraft.
Phone call between Xi and Zelensky still possible
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping to have a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, von der Leyen told a news conference in Beijing Thursday following the talks with Xi.
“I encouraged President Xi to reach out to President Zelenskyi. I know it from my phone calls, and President Zelenskyi has asked for it publicly,” the President of the European Commission said.
“It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak [with President Zelenskyi] when conditions and time are right. I think this is a positive element,” she added.
In talks with Xi, von der Leyen said, she reiterated support for Ukraine’s peace plan and welcomed China’s statements labeling nuclear threats unacceptable.
More than 50 countries, EU denounce UN Security Council meeting as Russia’s commissioner indicted for war crimes addresses gathering
Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, addressed a UN Security Council meeting on April 5 via video link.
The remarks by Lvova-Belova were denounced by more than 50 nations in a statement that said: “The Russian Federation will seek to present its actions in Ukraine as in line with international law, children’s rights, and the Children and Armed Conflict agenda. This could not be farther from the truth.”
The statement cites Ukraine’s data on 19,500 Ukrainian children that Russia forcibly transferred from the occupied territories. It also mentions the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants issued for Putin and Lvova-Belova.
Diplomats from the United States, Britain, Albania and Malta walked out when Lvova-Belova started to address the gathering by video link.
The informal Security Council meeting was called at the request of Russia that has taken the presidency of the UN Security Council. Russia says deportation of Ukrainian children is a “humanitarian action to protect the orphans and children abandoned in a war zone”.
Russia’s UN envoy, Vasiliy Nebenzia said children were taken for their safety.
Britain has blocked a UN webcast of the meeting at which Maria Lvova-Belova spoke. “If she wants to give an account of her actions, she can do so in The Hague,” it said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyi described Russia assuming the UN Security Council presidency on April 1 as “complete bankruptcy of international institutions”.
One year anniversary of liberation of the Kyiv region. Ukraine in Flames #392
The Kyiv region was one of the first to receive the blow of the russian invaders. russian columns marched to capture the Ukrainian capital from the north, bringing death and destruction. The hostilities in the Kyiv region lasted for more than a month. 15 territorial communities of Vyshgorod, Bucha and Brovary districts were under occupation – that’s 270 settlements of the region. Watch Ukraine in flames #392 to hear stories of local authorities, representatives of Territorial Defense and volunteers who helped the Kyiv region to withstand russian brutal aggression.
Guests:
- Yevheniia Antoniuk, Deputy of the Irpin City Council, Head of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions
- Kostyantyn Gudauskas, Volunteer
- Diana Shakirova, Head of the Charitable Organization “Volunteer Movement of Irpin”