Kenzo Tribouillard | AFP | Getty Images The European Union wants to put pressure on China to stay neutral on Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, knowledgeable sources told CNBC ahead of a virtual meeting between Brussels and Beijing on Friday. There is concern among Western officials about the role China may play in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Chinese authorities have so far refused to fully denounce Russia’s unprovoked invasion of its neighbor – after refraining from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning Moscow. China has also backed Moscow’s claims of NATO expansion, and US officials have also said that Russia has asked China for military and financial support – something the Kremlin and Beijing have denied. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday at 10 a.m. Brussels time and then with Chinese President Xi Jinping at 2 p.m. The goal of the summit is to “ensure, in some way, China’s neutrality so that they do not help Russia,” an EU official told CNBC on Tuesday, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks. The same official said EU-China economic ties and recent trade disputes may be raised during the talks, but “the focus is definitely on Russia.” A second EU official, also briefed on the talks, told CNBC that the summit was a “crucial moment in EU-China relations”. “If they [China] “They are in line with Russia, which will obviously have a very negative impact on relations with the EU,” he said. A third EU official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the summit was originally intended to announce “small initiatives”. “But things have changed,” he said, adding that “the key message is that there will be consequences if China [western] sanctions “. Earlier this month, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets told CNBC that if China were to help Russia invade Ukraine, then the West should also discuss sanctions against Beijing. In addition, several EU heads of state urged China last week to use its influence to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to CNBC last week, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said: “China is [the] “The most important country can be crucial in the peace process, they have a lot of leverage, a lot of leverage, and so we all expect.” Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on Tuesday: “We have often asked all our international partners, even those with whom we do not agree, to reach a peace and diplomatic solution. Even China, like “Turkey and many other countries can contribute to this effort.” “It is very important to participate in this effort to show collectively [Russian President Vladimir] “Putin’s that a diplomatic solution is a better option for him than to continue this war,” Di Mayo added. The EU’s relationship with China has been abnormal in recent years. They both signed an investment deal in late 2020 – shortly before US President Joe Biden arrived at the White House. However, just two months later, the EU decided to freeze the agreement citing concerns about human rights abuses in China. More recently, the European Commission has opened a case against China in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in support of discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania, an EU country. “Friday’s summit was intended to be an opportunity to put EU-China tensions behind us and create new ground for cooperation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s refusal to condemn the Moscow attack, however, “Europe’s expectations for a recovery have been sharply dampened,” analysts at the consulting firm Eurasia Group said in a note on Tuesday. “The European frustration with China over Ukraine combined with the strongest transatlantic unity in more than two decades will support closer EU-US cooperation against Beijing in the future,” they added. Transatlantic relations have improved in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following their foreign policy differences over the Taliban occupation of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 and a controversial US-Australian submarine deal that angered France. Now there seems to be more cooperation between Washington and Brussels. They have coordinated sanctions against Russia and the US is currently working to support the EU becoming more independent of Russian energy.
