Sources indicate that the EU plans to pressure China on its stance regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict during a virtual summit.

• An EU official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the talks, revealed to CNBC on Tuesday that the objective of the summit is to maintain China's neutrality so that they do not assist Russia.
• Last week, various heads of state appealed to China to utilize its power to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
• The EU’s relationship with China has been bumpy in recent years.

Sources informed CNBC that the European Union intends to apply pressure on China to adopt a neutral stance regarding Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine prior to a virtual meeting between the two entities on Friday.

Western officials are worried about China's potential involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as the Chinese government has not fully condemned Russia's invasion of its neighbor and abstained from voting on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Moscow.

Beijing has also backed Moscow's criticism of NATO expansion and U.S. officials have stated that Russia has requested military and economic support from China, which both the Kremlin and Beijing have denied.

On Friday, Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, will have separate meetings with Li Keqiang, China's Prime Minister, at 10 a.m. Brussels time, and with Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, at 2 p.m.

An EU official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the talks, revealed to CNBC on Tuesday that the objective of the summit is to maintain China's neutrality so that they do not assist Russia.

The official stated that while EU-China economic ties and ongoing trade conflicts may be discussed during the talks, the main focus will be on Russia.

Another EU official, privy to the negotiations, stated that the summit represents a pivotal juncture for EU-China relations. According to the official, if China chooses to align with Russia, it will undoubtedly lead to a detrimental outcome for relations with the EU.

An unnamed EU official stated that the summit was initially intended to reveal minor initiatives. However, the official added that the crucial message is that there will be consequences if China bypasses western sanctions.

If China assists Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, the West should consider imposing sanctions on Beijing, Estonia's Foreign Affairs Minister Eva-Maria Liimets stated in an interview with CNBC earlier this month.

Last week, heads of state in the EU called on China to use its influence to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Last week, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi stated on CNBC that China is the most crucial country in the peace process and has significant leverage.

Luigi Di Maio, Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister, stated on Tuesday to CNBC's Steve Sedgwick that they have consistently urged all their international partners, including those with whom they disagree, to work towards peace and a diplomatic resolution. He also mentioned that China, like Turkey and other countries, can play a role in this effort.

Di Maio emphasized the importance of participating in the effort to demonstrate to Putin that a diplomatic solution is a better option for him than continuing the war.

The EU’s relationship with China has been bumpy in recent years.

In late 2020, both parties signed an investment deal, but the EU later froze the agreement in early 2021 due to human rights concerns in China.

The European Commission has filed a complaint against China at the World Trade Organization, accusing it of unfair trade practices towards Lithuania, an EU member state.

According to Eurasia Group, the summit on Friday aimed to move past a year of tension between the EU and China and establish new areas of cooperation. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's refusal to condemn the attack have significantly diminished European hopes for a reset.

The disappointment of Europe towards China over Ukraine, coupled with the strongest transatlantic unity in more than two decades, will strengthen EU-US cooperation against Beijing in the future.

The relationship between the U.S. and Europe has strengthened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite disagreements over the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and a contentious submarine deal with Australia, the two sides have shown increased cooperation.

The U.S. is currently working on supporting the EU's efforts to become more independent from Russian energy, while coordinating sanctions against Russia.