EU Council President Urges China to Play Constructive Role in Ending War in Ukraine

During the joint summit of the European Union and China, EU Council President António Costa appealed to China to exert influence on Russia to help bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
The Gaze writes on it, referring to Deutsche Welle, citing the agency AFP.
“We call on China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to use its influence on Russia to ensure that it complies with the UN Charter and ends its aggressive war against Ukraine,” Costa said to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
During the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen drew attention to the need for a thorough reassessment of relations between the European Union and China. "As our cooperation deepened, so did the imbalances. We have reached a turning point. Reassessing our bilateral relations is extremely important," she said, referring to the EU's trade deficit, which reached a record €305.8 billion in 2024.
Xi, in turn, called for the adoption of the right strategic decisions. It is believed that this statement was perceived as veiled criticism of the EU's increasingly tough stance on China. At the same time, the Chinese leader stressed that despite the existing differences, both sides could find common ground.
“The more complex and confusing the international situation becomes, the more important it is for China and the EU to strengthen contacts, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation,” Xi said.
Expectations for the summit in Beijing, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China, were low. The summit was expected to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and China's restrictions on rare earth metal exports.
The Gaze previously informed on U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart next week in Stockholm, where he plans to raise concerns about China’s continued purchases of sanctioned Russian oil and its broader support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.