Germany: China could shape end of Russia’s war in Ukraine

China could play a decisive role in determining how Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine ultimately ends, Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said as he announced his visit to Beijing, Reuters reports.

“Germany and China together can find answers to the challenges of our time,” Klingbeil said.

The trip, which began on Nov. 16, is set to cover not only economic issues, such as supply chain instability and China’s excess production capacity, but also Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022.

Klingbeil emphasized that the war has “wide-ranging implications for stability and the economy not only in Europe but across the globe.”

Reuters reported that Klingbeil is the first member of Germany’s coalition government to visit China since Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul’s planned trip in October was postponed.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported, citing Chinese government advisor David Daoqui Li, that Washington and Beijing had for the first time agreed on coordinated actions regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine. This agreement came during a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Li, the meeting was “historic,” as the U.S. effectively recognized China as an equal partner in the negotiations. He added that one of the key topics for upcoming “serious discussions” will be the situation in Ukraine.