Europe
Putin informed China’s Xi about Russia-US talks, Kremlin says
Bloomberg News
February 24, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping about recent Russia-U.S. contacts on Ukraine in a phone call Monday, the Kremlin said. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg)
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping about recent Russia-U.S. contacts on Ukraine in a phone call Monday, the Kremlin said.
“The Chinese side expressed support for the ongoing dialogue between Russia and the U.S., as well as its readiness to assist in finding ways for a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict,” the statement said.
The call took place at the request of the Russian side, according to state broadcaster China Central Television. Ties between China and Russia have “unique strategic value, and are not aimed at any third party or influenced by any third party,” President Xi said, according to the state media report.
The call marks the two leaders’ first conversation since President Donald Trump upended years of U.S. policy on the war in Ukraine by opening peace talks with Putin. U.S. and Russian officials have since met in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an end to the three-year war, prompting deep concern in Europe and Ukraine over whether Trump will effectively hand a victory to Putin.
China has publicly welcomed direct communications between Putin and Trump, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling reporters over the weekend that the “window for peace is opening up.” The Chinese readout of Monday’s call said Beijing was happy to see the efforts made by Moscow on resolving the war in Ukraine.
It’s unclear what an improvement in U.S.-Russia ties would mean for Beijing’s relationship with Moscow. Xi and Putin struck a “no limits” friendship in February 2022 days before Russia’s invasion and have since united in opposing Washington’s dominance on the world stage.
With assistance from Henry Meyer.
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