German FM urges China to press Russia over Ukraine war

Germany's foreign minister said Monday he had pressed Chinese officials to use their influence to help end Russia's war in Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts on the conflict gathered pace.

Johann Wadephul made the comments in Beijing as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies held talks in London on a US-backed plan that has been criticised for echoing Moscow's demands.

"If there is one country in the world that has a strong influence on Russia, it is China," Wadephul told a press conference in Beijing, during his first visit to China as Germany's top diplomat in the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"My clear appeal to the Chinese side was -- as it has been before -- to advocate that Russia also realises that it

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