French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit China next week and will reportedly warn Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping against supporting Russia militarily in its war against Ukraine. According to a French official, such a move by China would have a “major strategic effect on the conflict” and could worsen the situation. The official added that France wants to engage with China to identify a “medium-term path for an end to the conflict” and that China is the only country capable of having an immediate and radical impact on the conflict. Macron’s visit comes after Xi’s talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this month. Western powers are concerned that Moscow is trying to encourage Chinese military cooperation to gain an advantage in the conflict, although China has not made any public offer to Moscow.
