Chinese authorities ‘drop EU council chief’s speech criticising war in Ukraine’

European diplomats say Charles Michel video referring to Russia's illegal' and brutal' invasion was withdrawn from trade fair

Chinese authorities dropped a trade fair speech by the European Council president, Charles Michel, that was critical of Russia's war in Ukraine, diplomats have said.

The recorded message by Michel was meant to be one of several from world leaders and heads of international bodies played at the opening on Friday last week of China's International Import Expo in Shanghai. Three European diplomats said Michel's speech, which was to have been heavily critical of Russia's illegal" war in Ukraine, had been removed, according to Reuters, which first reported the incident.