China is pleased that Russia and the United States (U.S.) are maintaining contact and improving ties in order to advance a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis, said President Xi Jinping in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Beijing will maintain its position on the need for peace talks and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, Chinese state media quoted Xi’s words to Putin.
According to media reports, the call was held at Putin’s request.
The call followed after the Kremlin announced on Thursday that Putin would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days in search of ending the war, now in its fourth year.
Trump has taken a more conciliatory approach toward Russia after returning to the White House in January, but has expressed increasing dissatisfaction with Putin over the lack of progress toward peace and has threatened to impose high tariffs on countries, including China, that buy Russian oil.
Trump said on Wednesday that he could announce further tariffs on China similar to the 25 percent tariffs he has already imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to those statements by Trump, said on Friday that China’s trade and energy cooperation with Russia is “fair and legitimate.”
“We will continue to take reasonable measures to ensure energy security based on our own national interests,” said spokesperson Guo Jiakun in a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Yesterday’s telephone conversation between Xi and Putin was their second in less than two months.
The two countries have further strengthened their economic, trade, and security cooperation since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which caused a sharp deterioration in Moscow’s relations with the West.
Putin is expected to visit China in September for events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
