French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna says China should exercise "caution" amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the minister says it is France’s “very clear wish to see our partners, first and foremost China [...] stick to its traditional defence of the principles of the United Nations Charter, of which non-interference is a part, and of which respect for the integrity of States is a part”.

The United States has been engaged in a major diplomatic offensive for the past week, warning China against providing lethal military support to Russia, which experts say would change the game in the conflict.

Beijing has strongly denied the allegations.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday that he would visit China in April and called on Beijing to "put pressure on Russia" to stop the conflict in Ukraine.