Emmanuel Macron is working on a secret plan with China to end the war in Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron is working on a plan to end the war in Ukraine
The French president is said to have missioned his foreign policy adviser Emmanuel Bonne to work with China's top diplomat Wang Yi to establish a framework that could be used as a basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Macron's strategy sees talks between Moscow and Kyiv happening as soon as this summer if things go to plan, according to Bloomberg.
However, the negotiations are dependent on several conditions - including a successful Ukrainian spring offensive that would allow the war-torn nation to be in a position of strength during any talks.
Bloomberg revealed that an official from Macron's office had confirmed the plan for Bonne to speak to Wang.
The French leader recently met Chinese president Xi Jinping in a bid to use Beijing's influence to end the conflict and it was revealed over the weekend he had "discussed the next steps in the organisation of a peace summit" with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Sources told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Mr. Macron said publicly during his China trip that he wanted to get China to commit to playing a constructive role. Naturally, diplomatic discussions took place and there is a follow-up."