Scholz says agreed with Xi to back Swiss peace conference on Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to back a high-level peace conference for Ukraine in Switzerland in June, taking place without Russia.

"President Xi and I have agreed: China and Germany intend to coordinate intensively and positively on promoting the organisation of a high-level conference in Switzerland and future international peace conferences," Scholz wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after he held talks with Xi in Beijing.

 Scholz also said that he had asked Xi to exert his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine during his visit.

"China's word carries weight in Russia," Scholz wrote on X.

"I have therefore asked President Xi to influence Russia so that Putin finally calls off his senseless campaign, withdraws his troops and ends this terrible war."