China and Russia reached "broad consensus" on a range of issues during the Chinese foreign minister's trip to Moscow this week, amid a burst of diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine and as Beijing seeks to rally support in a row with Tokyo.

Macron’s three-day visit to Beijing follows the trip to Paris by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged Europe to support Kyiv as Washington pushes a peace plan that repeats some of Russia’s demands.

China is drawing lessons from the Trump administration’s still unfinished “peace plan” for Russia and Ukraine, watching to see how far Washington will go to secure an agreement, and whether that means concessions to Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that unity between Europe and the United States was key in the support of Ukraine, adding there is "no mistrust" and denying a report he had said there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.

While Russia pursues its assault on Ukraine and wages a hybrid campaign against the European security order, China is increasingly shaping and sustaining the underlying war economy.

French president Emmanuel Macron has wrapped up his fourth state visit in China, without hitting any of his major goals. Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will maintain its position on the Russian war in Ukraine and has not signed or made any promises on reducing the trade deficit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanied his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday (December 5), marking a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy and which highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its dealings with the European Union.