Chinese President Xi Jinping made no concessions during his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, despite efforts to improve tense relations over trade disputes and Beijing's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia warns that if France sends troops to Ukraine, they will be considered legitimate targets for the Russian armed forces.
Germany is sending two warships to the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan over freedom of navigation and trade routes.
Since the beginning of 2024, Euroclear, the European depository, has received €1. 6 billion in interest income from more than €200 billion of frozen Russian assets.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite says she is ready to send Lithuanian troops to Ukraine for a training mission.
Macron and Xi had lunch at a mountain restaurant 2,150 meters above sea level in the Pyrenees, where they discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and trade issues in an unusual diplomatic setting.
The European Union is ready to use all trade tools to protect its economy if China fails to offer fair access to its markets, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that China has consistently supported peace talks in Ukraine, and therefore has no involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed China's commitment not to sell weapons or provide assistance to russia, and to strictly control the export of dual-use goods that could be used for military purposes against Ukraine.
France will send its ambassador to Putin's inauguration for another six-year term, media reports say.
The ambassadors of France and the United Kingdom were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, with the British ambassador, according to Russian media, summoned because of Cameron's statements about Ukraine's right to strike Russian territory using British weapons, and the French ambassador was summoned for unknown reasons.
Von der Leyen and Macron expect China to use all its influence on Russia to stop its aggressive war against Ukraine and limit the supply of dual-use goods to Russia that end up on the front line in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater strategic coordination and partnership between China and the EU amid disputes.
French President Macron told Chinese President Xi that coordination on the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East is crucial, advocating for balanced Sino-European trade relations and dialogue amid the international situation.
Russia is planning to conduct tactical exercises with nuclear weapons in response to the West's statements about the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine.
Russia will conduct exercises with the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in response to "threats from the West.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine said that reinforcements from NATO countries would help push back the Russian occupiers, and Kyiv would be grateful for additional troops.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in France on a state visit to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations and meet with Emmanuel Macron.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski believes that China has enough influence to force russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, but sees no signs of Putin's willingness to negotiate.
On the eve of his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for Europe to restore economic ties with China, seeking reciprocity and better economic security.
During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron will pressure him to push Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron opposed sending Western troops to Ukraine, saying it would be a dangerous escalation and that NATO soldiers should not kill Russian soldiers.
Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the statements of British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French President Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of strikes on Russia and the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine "dangerous" and "escalating tensions" around the war in Ukraine, which potentially threatens European security.
Russia has suffered enormous military losses: according to French estimates, about 150,000 soldiers have been killed in the ongoing war against Ukraine, and 500,000 people have been injured.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a secret dinner in Paris to discuss European Union policy and, in particular, Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to France.
Macron calls for a new European security framework after the end of the war in Ukraine. According to him, the day after the end of the war, Europe should be at the negotiating table to discuss security guarantees.
Macron said that France does not rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine if Russia continues its aggression.
Macron is calling for a debate on the role of nuclear weapons in Europe's common defense, proposing to discuss missile defense, long-range capabilities, and nuclear weapons for countries that have them or host US nuclear weapons.
French President Emmanuel Macron considers the war in Ukraine "the main threat to European security" and wants to develop a European defense initiative to ensure the continent's reliable protection.
French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined his vision of a strong Europe capable of confronting global challenges, such as Russia's war in Ukraine, by strengthening its defense capabilities and engaging with all regions of the world.