China Pressures EU to Negotiate with Russia, Warning Europe Is at Risk of Being ‘On the Menu’
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has forcefully urged the European Union to open direct negotiations with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine, leveraging fears of European geopolitical irrelevance. In a pointed statement, Beijing’s top diplomat cautioned European leaders that they risk being sidelined by superpowers if they do not assert their own diplomatic agency.
“Europe should not be on the menu, but at the table,” Wang stated, utilizing a sharp diplomatic metaphor to suggest that if the EU does not participate in shaping the endgame of the conflict, its future security architecture will be decided by Washington and Moscow without European consent. Wang explicitly pointed to recent engagements between the United States and Russia aimed at ending the war, implying that Brussels is currently lagging behind the diplomatic curve set by its transatlantic ally.
Strategic Implications
Wang’s comments represent a calculated effort by Beijing to drive a wedge between the United States and its European allies. By highlighting American diplomatic maneuvers with the Kremlin, China is tapping into deep-seated European anxieties regarding “strategic autonomy.” The narrative suggests that while Washington protects its own interests through direct dialogue with Vladimir Putin, Europe is left bearing the economic and social brunt of a prolonged conflict. This rhetoric aligns with China’s long-standing goal of fostering a multipolar world where the EU acts independently of American foreign policy.
Background Context
The call for negotiations comes against a backdrop of complex Sino-Russian relations. While China has officially maintained a stance of neutrality, it has deepened its “no limits” partnership with Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine began, providing vital economic lifelines that have helped the Russian economy withstand Western sanctions. Concurrently, reports of back-channel communications between US officials and the Kremlin have fueled speculation that the war may eventually end through a great-power settlement rather than a decisive military victory, a scenario that threatens to marginalize European security concerns.
Objections and Skepticism
Despite Wang’s framing, his proposal faces stiff resistance and significant skepticism within European capitals. EU officials have repeatedly emphasized the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” rejecting pressure to negotiate over the heads of the government in Kyiv. Critics argue that China’s push for a ceasefire or negotiation often fails to address the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, effectively freezing the conflict in Russia’s favor. Furthermore, many European analysts view Beijing not as an honest broker, but as a diplomatic shield for Moscow, arguing that if China truly wanted peace, it would use its economic leverage to curb Russian aggression rather than urging the victims of that aggression to compromise.
