EU Leaders in Beijing Urge China to Pressure Russia to End War

European Union leaders have pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence over Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine. The call came at the opening of a high-profile summit in Beijing marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and China.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa traveled to Beijing for the talks after Xi declined an invitation to attend the event in Brussels, Politico reported.

In his opening remarks, Costa criticized Beijing’s stance on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, we call on China to use its influence on Russia to abide by the UN Charter and stop its aggressive war against Ukraine,” he said.

Von der Leyen reiterated the urgency, asserting that the EU-China ties had reached a pivotal moment. She pointed out that while cooperation had expanded, “imbalances” in the relationship had grown as well, and she stressed the need for “real solutions” to address both sides’ concerns.

Xi responded by calling the relationship a “critical juncture” and described China and the EU as “two major players” in global affairs. He urged both sides to “improve communication, strengthen mutual trust, and deepen cooperation” to contribute to global stability.

EU leaders, meanwhile, voiced strong criticism of China’s current stance on Ukraine, and highlighted the growing trade imbalance and unfair economic practices. Ursula von der Leyen described the relationship as at an “inflection point” and pressed China to help deescalate the Ukraine conflict and rebalance trade relations, media reported.

Additionally, EU sources stressed that while climate cooperation was achieved, broader clashes over market practices, rare earth export controls, and China’s silent support for Russia signaled a broader rift.

While European leaders openly criticized China’s economic practices and tacit alignment with Moscow, Chinese media painted the meeting as a milestone reaffirmation of bilateral ties. Foreign Ministry voices called the EU–China relationship “one of the most influential” globally, setting the stage for Xi’s calls for pragmatic, normalized dialogue.

Von der Leyen cautioned that the relationship had reached a critical juncture due to trade imbalances and geopolitical friction, necessitating genuine cooperation from Beijing. China responded with a vision of mutual trust and strategic alignment—but the message also carried the implicit caveat: “properly handle differences.”

Despite achieving one limited breakthrough in climate cooperation, the summit revealed deep unresolved divisions over Ukraine, trade practices, and human rights.

The talks come amid broader warnings from Western defense officials. In June, former British Army Chief of Staff General Patrick Sanders said NATO nations risk facing simultaneous conflicts with Russia and China unless rearmament efforts accelerate.

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has also warned that Russia could attack EU states within a few years, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently suggested that Beijing could, under certain circumstances, encourage Moscow to escalate against NATO territory.