Enlarge image
Trio to resolve the conflict in Ukraine: Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a video conference with his colleagues Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping
Photo: Benoit Tessier / dpa
Germany, France and China want to hold further talks about the situation in Ukraine and a possible solution to the conflict.
SPIEGEL learned this from government circles.
At a trilateral video conference on Tuesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on another meeting of their countries' foreign ministers.
Scholz had conferred with the two heads of state via video link.
According to government circles, Xi emphasized in the phone call that there must be a peaceful solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must therefore be respected.
China will continue to assume its responsibilities in the conflict, Xi promised.
Specifically, the People's Republic now wants to offer humanitarian aid for Ukraine with a five-point plan.
So far, China had not positioned itself clearly on the Russian invasion.
The country has repeatedly emphasized that it is "solid as a rock" on Russia's side.
The United States sees both countries as a common enemy, and there are said to have been agreements between Xi and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin about the start of the invasion.
On the other hand, China also emphasizes the inviolability of state sovereignty and has not promised Moscow any direct support.
»Call for maximum restraint«
Scholz and Macron had now jointly taken the initiative to speak to the Chinese President.
According to participants, it was the first time that the three politicians had come together for a video conference.
Xi supports "the use of France and Germany for a ceasefire," said the Élysée Palace in Paris after the talks.
The three politicians spoke about the “dramatic consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in particular the growing number of civilian victims and those seeking protection.” They also spoke “about the role of sanctions”.
According to the Chinese broadcaster CCTV, Xi recently said with regard to the Ukraine war: "We would like to call for maximum restraint in order to prevent a major humanitarian crisis." He therefore called the situation in Ukraine "deeply worrying".
China is "sad that there is another war on the European continent".
Xi called on the two warring factions to "overcome difficulties and continue talks to achieve results."
mrc/kno/AFP