In a rare moment of quiet reflection, Volodymr Zelensky lays a wreath in Ukraine blue and yellow at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. The Ukrainian leader crossed into Poland with his wife Olena to meet President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda on Wednesday.
Poland remains one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies more than a year after Russia invaded, taking millions of refugees and supplying weapons. President Zelensky also wants it to play a key role in rebuilding Ukraine.
Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen flew to China on Wednesday for a three-day visit to persuade President Xi Jinping to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Xi recently visited Russia, building on an alliance with Vladimir Putin, and relations between the two nuclear states appear increasingly cosy.
The West also wants to woo Beijing, and France’s leader and Ms von der Leyen hope to “reset” ties with the vital economic partner – and broach the issue of Ukraine and trade risks.
As Putin said Russia-US relations were in crisis, Mr Macron predicted China could play a “major role” in a “path to peace” in Ukraine.
He added, in the country’s capital, that he hoped to refute talk of an “inescapable spiral of mounting tensions” between China and the West.
Addressing French residents in his Beijing embassy, Mr Macron stressed France would engage “in this shared responsibility for peace and stability”.
Diplomatic sources said the focus of the high-profile visit was for Mr Macron to try to persuade Mr Xi to use his influence over Putin and push for a withdrawal of Russian troops.