Western powers cannot dictate China’s actions amid the Ukraine conflict, noted the Chinese Ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui, in an interview with Izvestia.
He stressed that China did not help trigger the Ukraine crisis, is not a party to it, and has not supplied weapons to any side. The West does not have the authority to command Beijing, nor to assign responsibility to it. From the outset, he added, the PRC proposed multiple steps aimed at resolving the dispute through dialogue and negotiations.
Zhang further stated that China does not seek the Ukraine issue as a primary objective. Yet Beijing is not merely an outside observer. He underscored that China is not stoking the fire or exploiting the situation for advantage. The stance remains clear: China favors calls for peace, supports negotiations, and stands on the side of peace, dialogue, and historical justice.
Xi’s calls
On April 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Xi pressed the international community to restart peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict promptly. He stated that China is prepared to work with France and urged a renewed global effort to bring about dialogue and a political settlement.
Xi highlighted the need for a political solution and recommended shaping a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security framework. He also emphasized adherence to non-proliferation principles in the context of the Ukraine crisis.
He added that there is no quick fix for the crisis. All parties should work to create conditions conducive to a halt in fighting and the resumption of negotiations. Xi reiterated that China pursues an independent foreign policy and supports every nation’s right to determine its own development path.
A Politico report suggested that Macron did not succeed in persuading Xi to urge Russia to halt its actions during the visit. The piece noted that all sides have security concerns and that Xi did not signal a commitment to using Beijing’s influence to end the conflict. A French diplomat, speaking on background, indicated that Macron had urged Xi not to supply arms to Moscow, and that Xi replied that the war is not a matter for Beijing to decide.
other opinions
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on Macron’s efforts to persuade China to see Russia as reasonable. Peskov praised China’s potential as a mediator in Ukraine talks, while noting that the situation remains delicate, with a path toward peaceful regulation still possible. He also indicated that there is no alternative to continuing the special operation for now.
Meanwhile, Chinese officials expressed other views. On April 5, Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the European Union, described the phrase unlimited friendship with Russia as a rhetorical device rather than a practical commitment. This was stated prior to meetings with Macron and von der Leyen.
Fu Cong noted that China does not back Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, does not recognize Crimea or other territories as Russian, and does not provide military support to Moscow.