Chinese President Xi Jinping faced pressure from European leaders during his recent visit to France, Serbia, and Hungary to use his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Despite the calls for action, Xi offered few concessions and denied China’s involvement in the crisis.
During his visit to France, Xi was urged by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene in the conflict in Ukraine and to address trade imbalances with Beijing. However, Xi remained firm in his stance, stating that China was not responsible for the crisis and did not plan to ask Moscow to halt the war.
In Serbia and Hungary, Xi received warm welcomes and pledged to strengthen political and economic ties with the two countries. However, analysts noted that Xi’s visit was more about exploiting divisions within the European Union regarding China rather than seeking common ground.
Despite the charm offensive, Xi’s visit highlighted the challenges of balancing relationships with both Europe and Russia. The trip underscored the complexities of global diplomacy and the delicate dance of power dynamics on the world stage.
