China may boycott the upcoming peace talks on Ukraine, which are scheduled to take place in Switzerland, if Russia is not present. This was reported by UNN with reference to POLITICO.
Officials recently told POLITICO that China is trying to persuade Europe to allow Russia to sit at the table of future peace talks, possibly in Switzerland - otherwise Beijing will boycott such meetings
It is noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris in early May, marking his first trip to Europe since the pandemic. China is also seeking to repair damaged relations with Europe through Xi's "unlimited partnership" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
The publication's interlocutors note that the mood in France is likely to be different from the celebrations that marked the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries.
"It will be less festive and more diligent, given the current economic and geopolitical stakes. We demand reciprocity in relations with China, particularly in the key area of environmental transition," the source said.