German Chancellor Olaf Scholz presses China on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, right and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pose for a photo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via AP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to pressure Russia to end its “insane campaign” in Ukraine, the latest in a parade of European leaders and senior officials to make such an appeal.

The Chinese side gave no sign of any change in its position, which has been to blame Europe and the US for prolonging the fighting by supplying Ukraine with weapons and calling for peace negotiations that recognise Russian as well as Ukrainian concerns.