Bloomberg (USA): The head of EU diplomacy called the summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "dialogue of the deaf"
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrel, called the negotiations of the bloc's representatives with Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "dialogue of the deaf," Bloomberg reports. At the same time, the diplomat questioned Beijing's readiness to cooperate with the West in order to complete Russia's special operation in Ukraine.
- Josep Borrel said that Beijing did not want to discuss Russia's special operation in Ukraine.
- The United States and the European Union are trying to put pressure on China to force it to condemn Russia
"China wanted to ignore our differences on Ukraine," said EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrel, who along with other European leaders participated in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week. – They didn't want to talk about Ukraine. They didn't want to talk about human rights and other issues and instead focused on the positive aspects."
On Tuesday, April 5, Borrel told the European Parliament that the European side had made it clear that such a distinction was "unworkable, unacceptable," adding: "For us, the conflict in Ukraine is a defining moment that will show whether we live in a world governed by rules or force."
These comments by Borrel sharply contrast with the Chinese assessment of the results of the video summit of Xi with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the head of the European Council Charles Michel, which took place on April 1. The final statement of the Chinese side said that the European Union "expressed its desire for a frank exchange of views with China in order to maintain a positive momentum in relations between China and the European Union."
As von der Leyen noted, during the negotiations, Brussels expected that Beijing "at least would not interfere" with the implementation of the sanctions that the Europeans imposed against Moscow.
The United States and other Western countries are trying to put pressure on China to force it to openly condemn Moscow's policy. Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats and state media expose Russian President Vladimir Putin as a victim of NATO expansionism. Xi has already held talks with Putin and Biden, but he has not yet spoken with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
During a video summit with EU leaders, Xi said that the current situation could negate the achievements of global economic cooperation and that Beijing and Brussels should do everything possible to prevent the negative consequences of the crisis, as reported in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
According to Borrel, the European Union called on China "to use its influence on Russia to immediately agree on a truce and support for humanitarian corridors." He added that any attempt to help Moscow circumvent sanctions would entail "serious consequences."
"The Chinese side adhered to general statements about the desire to see the world, but at the same time it avoided specific obligations and refused to lay any blame on Russia," Borrel said.
