German Chancellor Urges China's Xi to Influence Russia for Ukraine Peace

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has publicly called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to use Beijing's influence over Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine. Scholz made the appeal during a meeting with Xi in Beijing, emphasizing the unique role China could play.

"We know that signals from Beijing are taken very seriously in Moscow—this applies to both words and deeds," Scholz stated following the talks. He stressed that China's position grants it significant leverage with the Kremlin, which could be pivotal for diplomatic efforts.

The German leader did not disclose Xi's specific response to this direct request. However, according to reports from Chinese state media, Xi reiterated China's official stance during the meeting. The Chinese president said China supports resolving the "Ukraine conflict" through diplomacy, but any settlement must "take into account the legitimate interests of all parties" and ensure their equal participation in the process.

Scholz is currently on an official visit to China. Earlier discussions also focused on economic ties, with the German chancellor encouraging increased Chinese investment in Germany.