Macron appeals to China’s Xi to ‘bring Russia back to its senses’ over Ukraine invasion
French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to Xi Jinping to “bring Russia back to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table” over the Ukraine war.
The Chinese leader called for peace talks but he gave no indication that Beijing would use its leverage as President Vladimir Putin‘s diplomatic partner to press for a settlement.
France’s President Macron was visiting Beijing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said she expects China to promote a just peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The three leaders met in Beijing
After a meeting between the trio, Ms Von der Leyen said President Xi expressed his willingness to speak to Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Mr Xi continues to refuse to condemn Russia for its February 2022 invasion.
“It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak” to Mr Zelenskyy, she said. President Xi said a conversation could happen when the “conditions and time are right”, she added.
The Chinese premier did not mention a possible conversation with Mr Zelenskyy in his comments after the discussions.
And Mr Xi gave no sign that China had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February.
“Peace talks should resume as soon as possible,” Mr Xi said on Thursday. And he called on other governments to avoid doing anything that might “make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control”.
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly asked Mr Xi to meet him, including after he visited Mr Putin in Moscow last month.
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‘EU-China relations are complex’
President Xi has sought to position China as a potential mediator in the conflict but is seen by the West as favouring Russia.
The Chinese leader said he hoped Moscow and Kyiv could hold peace negotiations as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Mr Macron said the West must engage with China to help end the war and prevent “spiralling tensions”.
“The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability,” he told President Xi as they stood outside the Great Hall of the People at the start of their 90-minute bilateral meeting.
“I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.”
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Xi welcomes Macron to China
China has proposed a 12-point peace plan for the Ukraine crisis that calls on both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a ceasefire.
But the plan has been largely dismissed by the West due to Mr Xi’s refusal to criticise Mr Putin’s actions.
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It is understood that Mr Macron also urged President Xi not to provide weapons to Russia, to which the Chinese leader replied it was not his war.
The United States and NATO have said China was considering sending arms to Russia, which Beijing has denied.
Mr Macron also asked Mr Xi to press Russia to comply with international rules on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The European leaders’ visit to China comes after years of souring relations with Beijing over issues including accusations of human rights abuse against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, a stalled investment pact and China’s reluctance to condemn Russia over its Ukraine invasion.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former “thug” and “pit bull”, has been accused of lying about a phone call he says he made to the former US president about payments to ex porn star Stormy Daniels.
Cohen, a lawyer who worked for the Trump Organisation from 2006 to 2017, has been giving evidence in the case about hush money payments to Ms Daniels – in an attempt to cover up an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, called into question an important detail – a phone call made by Cohen to Trump’s assistant, Keith Schiller, on 24 October 2016.
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Cohen, 57, has maintained that during that call he spoke to Trump (who was either given the phone by Mr Schiller or placed on loudspeaker – we don’t know which) and told him he had paid Ms Daniels $130,000 in hush money on his behalf.
But Mr Blanche called this into doubt – showing the jury a number of interactions suggesting Cohen was in contact with Mr Schiller about a different issue at the same time, namely that he was receiving harassing phone calls and texts from a 14-year-old child.
“That was a lie – you did not talk to President Trump on that night, you talked to Keith Schiller about what we just went through,” Mr Blanche said.
Cohen said that, based on his records, he believes he spoke to Trump about the Stormy Daniels matter.
“We are not asking for your belief,” Mr Blanche said. “This jury does not want to hear what you think happened.”
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Donald Trump in court on Thursday. Pic: Reuters
That exchange was part of several hours of questioning which apparently sought to paint a picture of Cohen as someone who is eager to see his former boss behind bars.
Mr Blanche played jurors audio clips of Cohen saying the case “fills me with delight” and that imagining Trump and his family in prison made him feel “giddy with hope and laughter”.
“Does the outcome of this trial affect you personally?” Mr Blanche asked.
“Yes,” Cohen replied. He is due to return to the witness stand on Monday.
Michael Cohen (right) was Donald Trump’s fixer. Pic: AP
Cohen worked as the former president’s fixer. He once described himself as Trump’s “spokesman, thug, pit bull and lawless lawyer”.
He once said he would take a bullet for his boss and admitted at the end of questioning on Tuesday that he “violated my moral compass” while working for Trump.
Hush money payouts are not illegal, but Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide it – a claim he denies.
Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career.
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm took second place following his switch to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Ronaldo became the world’s highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr and Forbes said the 39-year-old’s estimated total earnings were around $260m (£205m) – an all-time high for a football player.
Jon Rahm came in second. Pic: Jeff Faughender/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
His on-field earnings amounted to $200m (£158m) while off-field he earned $60m (£47m) thanks to sponsorship deals where brands make use of his 629 million Instagram followers.
Rahm earned $218m (£172m) and joins Ronaldo as the only two athletes to earn over $200m.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Pic: David Kirouac/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Third on the list is record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who switched to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, which helped the Argentine World Cup winner earn $135m (£107m).
The 36-year-old earned $65m (£51m) in on-field earnings but $70m (£55m) off it from deals with major sponsors such as Adidas and Apple.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James came in fourth at $128m (£101m), while fellow NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks made fifth with $111m (£88m).
France football captain Kylian Mbappe dropped down to sixth with $110m (£87m).
Neymar, who also moved to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Hilal, is seventh with $108m (£85m), despite sitting out the majority of the season with a torn ACL.
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French striker Karim Benzema, who also moved to Saudi Arabia, is eighth on the list with $106m (£84m), followed by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry with $102m (£80m).
Lamar Jackson is the only NFL player on the list, in 10th place with $101m (£80m), thanks to the signing bonus negotiated into his new Baltimore Ravens contract last year.
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