Two days after a formal depart from China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron were set to travel to the region while China’s President Xi Jinping prepared to meet Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat. The week saw a sustained European effort in Beijing. There was a clear expectation that a permanent member of the UN Security Council would defend the rules-based international order. Beijing was reminded that it bears moral responsibility to contribute to a just peace in Ukraine and should not align with the aggressor. This message came in Brussels after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of a NATO foreign ministers gathering. The emphasis was on accountability and a united stance by European partners and the transatlantic community.
According to Josep Borrell, Moscow appeared determined to press on with heavy fighting and destruction despite international appeals for restraint. He warned that the situation was escalating, pointing to a recent development involving tactical nuclear weapons that raised concerns about European security. The episode followed Xi Jinping’s discussions with Vladimir Putin and their calls for peace, which were noted in diplomatic exchanges around the same time.
Borrell confirmed his own trip to China the following week, stating that the two sides had agreed not to deploy nuclear weapons abroad. Shortly after this assurance, Russia announced plans to deploy such weapons, prompting commentary that many Europeans would be traveling to China as part of a broader outreach by European leaders, including Pedro Sánchez of Spain who had recently hosted a regional summit.
The EU’s position remained clear: Moscow’s actions in Ukraine would determine the depth of future relations with Russia. In parallel, the EU and the transatlantic partners reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s self-defence and to maintaining collective pressure on Moscow to end widespread violations of international law. The goal was to ensure Ukraine’s resilience and eventual victory, supported by political, military, and financial assistance. Ongoing concerns extended beyond Ukraine to the broader regional landscape, including the Middle East and the enduring instability in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as conflicts in Ethiopia and the Central African Republic, all against the backdrop of energy shortages and supply disruptions.
In a concise briefing, Blinken described a relationship with the EU that had grown stronger and more essential for shared interests. He reiterated support for Ukraine across every dimension. Efforts to curb Moscow’s aggression included freezing assets tied to Kremlin-backed actors, imposing broad sanctions, and enforcing export controls designed to limit Russia’s capacity to wage war. Officials noted that Russia’s financial situation faced pressure from these measures, forcing difficult choices about investment at home versus continued support for the war effort. One Russian industrialist, publicly discussing the country’s future, underscored the pressure that Russia faced in the year ahead, illustrating the domestic implications of international actions. The overarching message from Washington and Brussels was unity, resolve, and a continued commitment to uphold international norms and aid Ukraine in defending its sovereignty.