Austrian officials advise China to pressure Russia to avoid Western sanctions
Photo: Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Austrian Foreign Minister (Getty Images)
China needs to put pressure on Russia to make it stop the war against Ukraine. Otherwise, Beijing could face sanctions, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said in an interview with Bloomberg.
"China has a responsibility to use its leverage on Putin to genuinely engage in negotiations. The EU’s position is to put pressure on Putin, and we do that through sanctions. If those sanctions are being circumvented, then we must take action," the official said.
She also clarified that when imposing sanctions, the EU must always consider whether the restrictions do more harm to Russia than to the bloc itself.
Meinl-Reisinger noted that China is one of Austria’s most important trade and investment partners – last year, around 650 Austrian companies operated in the Chinese market.
"China is on its way to becoming a global leader, and with that comes a certain responsibility. For months, Ukraine has shown it is ready for a ceasefire and to negotiate at whatever level is necessary. But Putin is not. And Beijing — well, they have influence over Moscow," the minister said.
US plan to pressure Russia
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the US has prepared a plan to pressure Russia for the participants of the G7.
In particular, the US plans to urge its allies to impose tariffs on China and India for purchasing Russian oil.
The plan also includes developing a mechanism to seize Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
