Chinese President Xi Jinping shows no sign of changing his position over Russia\u2019s 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\u2019s Zelenskyi. More than 50 countries denounce remarks by Russia\u2019s commissioner for children\u2019s rights indicted for war crimes as she addresses a UN Security Council meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no sign of changing his position over Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine after talks Thursday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, according to an article by Politico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the second day of Macron\u2019s state visit to China, Xi took his long-standing line on Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine \u2014 saying that \u201call sides\u201d have \u201creasonable security concerns\u201d \u2014 and gave no hint he would use his influence to help end the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChina is willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm,\u201d was as far as the Chinese leader would go during a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeace 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 \u2026 seeking political resolution and constructing a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework,\u201d he added, sitting next to Macron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s threat to host nuclear missiles in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The talks \u2014 which an Elys\u00e9e Palace official nonetheless described as \u201cfrank and constructive\u201d \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI encouraged President Xi to reach out to President Zelenskyi. I know it from my phone calls, and President Zelenskyi has asked for it publicly,\u201d the President of the European Commission said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In talks with Xi, von der Leyen said, she reiterated support for Ukraine\u2019s peace plan and welcomed China\u2019s statements labeling nuclear threats unacceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s commissioner for children\u2019s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, addressed a UN Security Council meeting on April 5 via video link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The remarks by Lvova-Belova were denounced by more than 50 nations in a statement that said: \u201cThe Russian Federation will seek to present its actions in Ukraine as in line with international law, children\u2019s rights, and the Children and Armed Conflict agenda. This could not be farther from the truth.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement cites Ukraine\u2019s data on 19,500 Ukrainian children that Russia forcibly transferred from the occupied territories. It also mentions the International Criminal Court\u2019s arrest warrants issued for Putin and Lvova-Belova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diplomats from the United States, Britain, Albania and Malta walked out when Lvova-Belova started to address the gathering by video link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201chumanitarian action to protect the orphans and children abandoned in a war zone\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s UN envoy, Vasiliy Nebenzia said children were taken for their safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Britain has blocked a UN webcast of the meeting at which Maria Lvova-Belova spoke. \u201cIf she wants to give an account of her actions, she can do so in The Hague,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian President Zelenskyi described Russia assuming the UN Security Council presidency on April 1 as \u201ccomplete bankruptcy of international institutions\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n