China has sought to position itself as a neutral party on the conflict, even as it has maintained close ties with Russia and helped scuttle a joint statement condemning the war at a G20 gathering in India.
It published a 12-point position paper on Friday that called for urgent peace talks and a "political settlement" to end the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday also expressed hopes to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, calling it "important for world security".
Macron said Saturday he would visit China in "early April" and urged Beijing to help "put pressure" on Russia to end the war.
"The fact that China is engaging in peace efforts is a good thing," Macron said on the sidelines of an agricultural show in Paris, in reference to the position paper.
Peace was only possible if "Russian aggression was halted, troops withdrawn, and the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and its people was respected", he added.
Earlier on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko would pay a state visit from February 28 to March 2 at Xi's invitation.
A long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko allowed his country to be used as a launchpad for Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western ally on February 24 last year.
Kyiv has expressed concerns that Belarus could again support Moscow in its war effort, with the countries announcing the creation of a joint regional force last October.
Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang told his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik that Beijing was willing to work with Minsk to deepen mutual political trust during a phone conversation on Friday, China's ministry said in a statement.
China would also continue to support Belarus in maintaining national stability and oppose attempts by "external forces" to interfere in its internal affairs or impose "illegal" unilateral sanctions on Minsk, Qin told Aleinik.
- Diplomatic rifts exposed -
The diplomatic rift between Beijing, Moscow and the West was exposed on Saturday as G20 finance ministers failed to adopt a joint statement on the global economy after China sought to water down references to the Ukraine war.
Russia said the United States, the European Union and the G7 "destabilised" the talks in India by trying to impose their "diktat".
The Chinese position paper urged all parties to "support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible".
It also made clear its opposition to the use and threat of deploying nuclear weapons, after Putin threatened to use Moscow's atomic arsenal in the conflict.
Some of Ukraine's allies have expressed scepticism at China's commitment to brokering peace, nodding to Beijing's close ties to Moscow. China has denied a claim by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that it was "considering providing lethal support" to Russia.
Macron urged China "not to supply any arms to Russia" and sought Beijing's help to "exert pressure on Russia to ensure it never uses chemical or nuclear weapons and it stops this aggression prior to negotiations".
Zelensky did not specify when or where talks with Xi would happen, but expressed hope Friday that China would support a "just peace" in Ukraine and that Beijing would not supply weapons to Russia.
- Spring counter-offensive -
On Sunday, the deputy chief of Ukrainian military intelligence told a German newspaper group that a fresh push to retake seized territory was planned for spring, adding Kyiv's forces would "not stop until we get our country back to its 1991 borders".
"One of our strategic military objectives is to try to drive a wedge into the Russian front in the south -- between Crimea and Russian territory," Vadym Skibitsky said.
Beyond that, "the objective of our counter-offensive is to liberate all the occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea".
Skibitsky also raised the possibility of future Ukrainian strikes on "arms depots or military equipment on Russian territory, for example around the city of Belgorod, from where attacks on Ukraine are launched".
On the ground, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said his forces had captured another village on the outskirts of the frontline city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine on Saturday.
Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed the capture of Yagidne, a short distance from central Bakhmut, which has become a key political and symbolic prize in the battle to control the eastern Donbas region.
Zelensky says plans to meet China's Xi Jinping
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Feb 24, 2023 -
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he was planning to meet China's Xi Jinping after Beijing called for urgent peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president also said he was doing his best to prevent Chinese arms supplies to Russia to avoid any risk of "World War III."
"I am planning to meet with Xi Jinping," he told reporters as Ukraine marked the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.
"This will be important for world security," he said.
Zelensky did not say when or where he was planning to meet Xi but expressed hope that China would support a "just peace" and Ukraine.
"I really want to believe that China will not supply weapons to Russia. It is very important for me," Zelensky said.
Earlier Friday, China called for urgent peace talks as it released a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Several Western powers rebuffed the proposals and also warned against Beijing's close ties to Moscow.
Zelensky also said on Friday he was convinced that only a country whose territory is under attack can initiate "any peace initiatives."
Beijing has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the conflict, while maintaining close ties with strategic ally Russia.
Kazakhstan backs China's Ukraine plan before Blinken visit
Astana, Kazakhstan (AFP) Feb 25, 2023 -
Russian ally Kazakhstan expressed support on Saturday for a Chinese initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, days ahead of a visit by the US Secretary of State.
Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said it welcomed China's position "on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis".
In a statement, the ministry said the proposal "deserves support as contributing to the cessation of bloodshed".
Kazakhstan, which shares a 7,500 kilometre (4,660 mile) border with Russia, on Saturday also emphasised the importance of "territorial integrity" in China's plan.
Kazakhstan is part of various military and economic alliances with Russia but has refused to support the invasion of Ukraine or recognise the Kremlin's annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
At the same time, it has abstained or voted against UN resolutions condemning Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next week before going to New Delhi for a G20 foreign ministers' meeting, also due to be attended by Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
China's 12-point paper calling for a "political settlement" of the crisis has been greeted with scepticism by Western leaders but Ukraine and Russia have expressed cautious support.
Timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's assault on Friday, the paper urges all parties to "support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible".
Belarusian President Lukashenko to visit China in coming days: govt
Beijing (AFP) Feb 25, 2023 -
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit China on February 28 for a state visit, the Chinese foreign ministry said Saturday.
Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has backed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus dependent on its neighbour both financially and politically.
"At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will pay a state visit to China from February 28 to March 2," spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang told his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik that Beijing is willing to work with Minsk to deepen mutual political trust during a phone conversation on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
China will also continue to support Belarus in maintaining its national stability, and will oppose attempts by "external forces" to interfere in its internal affairs or impose "illegal" unilateral sanctions on Minsk, Qin told Aleinik.
In September last year, Xi and Lukashenko announced an "all-weather" strategic partnership, when the two met in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.
Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine and Russia, allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch its attack on Ukraine last year.
Kyiv has expressed concerns that Belarus could again support Moscow in its war effort.
On Friday, China released a 12-point position paper on the conflict calling for urgent peace talks and a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis.
Timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the paper urges all parties to "support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible".
Germany 'doubtful' about China role in Ukraine talks
Berlin (AFP) Feb 24, 2023 -
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday questioned China's willingness to mediate in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, after Beijing called for urgent peace talks to end the war.
"Every constructive suggestion that brings us closer on the path to a just peace is highly welcome," Steinmeier said on the anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Whether global power China wants to play such a constructive role is still doubtful," he said.
China on Friday published a 12-point paper on the "political settlement" of the war in Ukraine, urging both sides to come to the negotiating table.
On Wednesday, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Following Wang's visit, Moscow said Beijing had presented its views on approaches to a resolution of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he had not seen a Chinese peace plan and wanted to meet Beijing over the proposal before assessing it.
Steinmeier said if China wanted to play a constructive role, Beijing should "not just speak with Moscow, but also with Kyiv".
China should also "join the overwhelming majority of states and work for peace under the umbrella of the United Nations", Steinmeier added.
Beijing on Thursday abstained in a non-binding UN vote to demand that Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
As a member of the UN Security Council, China had a "special responsibility for ending the Russian war against Ukraine", German government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner told a regular press conference.
"It is therefore good that Beijing has presented its own ideas," Buechner said.
"The Chinese plan contains a number of important points, such as a clear rejection of any use of nuclear weapons," the spokesman said.
"Important elements" were missing from Beijing's proposal, however, "above all the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine", he said.
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