European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said China had a 'special responsibility" to demand that Russia respect international law and to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, CNN reported.

Addressing the European Parliament in Brussels, von der Leyen said that the European Union expects "the rest of the world to take a clear stand against Putin's war."

She added that the EU has sent a message to China calling for compliance with EU sanctions against Russia, or at least for them not to be circumvented or undermined.

She warned that "the war unleashed by Russia" is not limited to Europe and will determine how future violations of international law will be treated. "China must take a clear position on this," she added.