Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone on Friday at Putin's invitation, ahead of Putin's expected summit with US President Donald Trump on the future of the Ukraine conflict.
In a statement by China's Foreign Ministry, in the course of the discussion, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's view of the situation in the Ukraine crisis as well as of latest contacts between Moscow and Washington.
Putin is under increasing pressure from Trump to end the war in Ukraine, which was started by Russia in February 2024 as a bid to make territorial demands. US media reports indicate that Trump wants Putin's endorsement of a ceasefire pact followed by a peace treaty.
The summit plan came after Trump's special envoy Steven Witkoff visited Moscow, where he held lengthy negotiations with Putin.
From 2013, Putin and Xi have developed a close personal relationship, which has put a strategic dimension to Russia-China relations. Their alliance involves strong political and military relationships that pose a serious threat to the global power of the US and European Union. The two presidents have met regularly and built intense trade ties, with China becoming the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas.
China has been keeping a policy of strategic ambiguity on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and refused to have any suspicion of supplying weapons to Moscow.
Putin, who plans to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, reaffirmed during the call that the all-round strategic partnership between Russia and China will remain unshaken irrespective of situations.
The SCO summit will take place on August 31 and September 1. After the summit, Putin will probably stay in China to see a grand military parade in Beijing on September 3 marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
In the course of their exchange, Xi reiterates China's abiding stance towards the Ukraine crisis, with a focus on reaffirming China's continued support for advancing peace negotiations regardless of the course of events. He observes that complicated matters do not have easy solutions and expounds on China's positions with regard to the crisis.
Xi also finds it gratifying that Russia and the US continue to keep channels of communication open, enhance the relationship, and move forward politically to end the Ukraine war.
The two heads of state committed to further strengthen China-Russia relations. Putin spoke very highly of China's positive role in pursuing a political solution and reiterated Russia's commitment to close communication with China in the future.
Read also| Watch| ‘Give The Bully...’: Chinese Ambassador Criticizes Trump’s 50% Tariffs on India
Read also| Netanyahu Amid Tensions: "Will Give Advice To PM Modi On Dealing With Trump"
