German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hopes that China's Xi Jinping will urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine during their meeting in Beijing.
“We do not expect a fundamental shift in the strategic relations between Russia and China at this stage,” said Merz on Tuesday after a meeting with Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Berlin.
“But we naturally associate this visit with the hope that President Xi will also urge President Putin to end this war in Ukraine, which he cannot win.”
The chancellor pointed out that the war is causing a “heavy loss of life” for Russia every day.
A few days after US President Donald Trump made the trip, Putin is visiting China on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The talks, at Xi’s invitation, are set to focus on expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries.
