Germany's president has remarked that China is not engaging on the Ukraine issue, raising questions about whether Europe will now have to take greater initiative on its own.

German President: China Has No Plans to Hold Talks with the U.S. and Russia on Ukraine

During an interview with Germany’s ARD television following his recent visit to China from October 27 to 31, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier denied reports suggesting a potential trilateral negotiation among China, Russia, and the United States on the Ukraine issue. He stated that during his discussions in Beijing, Chinese officials made clear that no preparatory work is currently underway for such talks, and emphasized that Europe should be involved in shaping feasible peace proposals.

Steinmeier noted that while a trilateral meeting among China, Russia, and the U.S. is expected to take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, the topic of Ukraine will not be on the agenda.

During his visit to China, Steinmeier did call on Beijing to encourage a negotiated resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, pointing out China’s role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council with close ties to Russia, and expressing hope that China would urge Moscow to enter into “serious negotiations.” He also underscored the importance of European involvement in crafting peace solutions, warning against the emergence of new geopolitical divisions.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880661279505420/

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