Xi Bristles at Criticism of China Over the War in Ukraine

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Talks in Paris with President Macron produced a call for an "Olympics truce" this summer but no concrete progress on Beijing putting pressure on Russia.

President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Xi Jinping of China at Élysée Palace after a meeting with the European Commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen, right.Credit...Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Published May 6, 2024Updated May 7, 2024

President Xi Jinping of China, on a two-day visit to France, spoke out firmly against criticism of his country for its close relationship with Russia during the war in Ukraine, saying that "we oppose the crisis being used to cast responsibility on a third country, sully its image and incite a new cold war."

Flanked by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, with whom he held several rounds of talk on Monday, Mr. Xi stiffened as he defended China's role, recalling it was "not at the origin of this crisis, nor a party to it, nor a participant."

The bristling remark appeared aimed principally at the United States, which believes that China, aside from buying enormous amounts of Russian oil and gas, continues to aid Moscow's war in Ukraine by providing satellite imagery to Russian forces along with jet fighter parts, microchips and other dual-use equipment.

Mr. Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's president, who attended a morning session of talks, pressured Mr. Xi to use his influence on Moscow to bring the war to an end. Mr. Xi will host President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Beijing later this month, but there was no suggestion — other than a general wish for peace — that he would ask his "no limits" ally to stop the war.

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The atmosphere between Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron was full of mutual congratulation at the fruits of the 60-year diplomatic relationship between the two countries and vows to build a better world.Credit...Yoan Valat/Associated Press

The talks in Paris took place as Mr. Putin again suggested he might be prepared to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. Russia has specifically cited Mr. Macron's taboo-breaking statement in February that the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine could not be ruled out as a reason for Moscow's decision to hold military exercises to practice for the possible use of battlefield, or "tactical," nuclear weapons.

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