China's Ukraine Stance a Precondition for Normalizing Ties, EU Lawmakers Warn

A delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs has stated that China "does not want to assume any responsibility" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The lawmakers stressed that China's position on the conflict is a "precondition" for normalizing relations with Beijing.

During their visit to China, European lawmakers noted that Chinese officials maintained they had a "special relationship" with both Russia and Ukraine. They described China's approach as maintaining equidistance, particularly given its extensive border with Russia. "They didn't want to take any responsibility. They said they had a special relationship with both countries... and therefore maintained the equidistance they have maintained," said MEP Nicolás Pascual de la Parte in an interview.

Javi López, another Spanish MEP on the delegation, echoed this sentiment, stating that during meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China insisted it was an "external actor" in the war. López described Russia's "brutal invasion" as a "rupture of the European security architecture" and called on Beijing to fulfill its "great responsibility" in resolving conflicts and ensuring global stability, given its influence and permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The European delegation conveyed that for Brussels, China leveraging its "capacity for influence" over Putin is a "precondition for normalizing relations." They warned that if China remains on the sidelines or equidistant, it would be viewed as a "hostile attitude towards Europe." Pascual de la Parte added that China's stance carries a "very serious reputational cost," as it cannot claim to be a major power and responsible international actor while failing to help resolve conflicts, especially when there is a clear aggressor. The delegation stressed the importance of third-party actors in resolving what they termed an "existential threat."