UPDATE - Germany calls on China to use its influence on Russia to end war in Ukraine

By Ahmet Gencturk, Ayhan Simsek

ANKARA/ BERLIN (AA) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence on Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.

German and Chinese leaders had a one-hour-long phone conversation in which they exchanged views on international issues and the current challenges, according to the statement from the Bellevue Palace.

“The president underlined the common interest of Europe and China in an end to the war [in Ukraine], as well as respect for Ukrainian sovereignty and withdrawal of Russian troops, which are required for this,” the statement said.

Steinmeier also asked Xi to use his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war, according to the statement.

He thanked the Chinese president for his support of the joint declaration of the G-20 Summit last month, which underlined that the use of nuclear weapons was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry also issued a statement saying Xi praised the state of relations between Berlin and Beijing, which he described as multi-faceted and mutually beneficial.

Furthermore, he emphasized that China is willing to carry out “more extensive and in-depth cooperation with Germany in dealing with global challenges such as sluggish economic recovery in the post-epidemic period, climate change, food crisis, and energy crisis.”

Particularly on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Xi said that China insists on persuading peace and promoting talks, and believes that “protracted and complicated crises” are not in the interests of all parties.

"China supports the European side in demonstrating its strategic autonomy, leading the construction of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture, and realizing lasting peace and long-term stability in the European continent," he said.