In a 2024 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony for participants of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
China and Russia are “true friends” whose support for each other cannot be shaken, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday in a call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, which fell on the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Days before the war, in 2022, China and Russia declared a “no limits” strategic partnership, and while Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting in the years since, it has never criticized Moscow for invading Ukraine, while strengthening economic ties and providing key technology to help Russia’s war effort.
With new U.S. President Donald Trump currently negotiating an end to the Ukraine war – without Kyiv or European powers at the table and mostly on Russia’s terms – there has been some speculation Washington could seek to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, something Monday’s call seemed designed to rebut.
“China-Russia relations have strong internal driving force and unique strategic value, and are not aimed at, nor are they influenced by, any third party,” Mr. Xi said. “The development strategies and foreign policies of China and Russia are long-term.”
Mr. Xi said he was happy to see Russia “and relevant parties make positive efforts to defuse the Ukraine crisis,” according to state media.
A Kremlin readout described the call as “warm and friendly,” and quoted Mr. Xi as expressing support “for the dialogue that had begun between Russia and the United States, as well as a willingness to assist in finding ways to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian conflict.”
“The leaders particularly emphasized that the Russian-Chinese foreign policy link is the most important stabilizing factor in world affairs,” the Kremlin statement said.
Mr. Trump’s willingness to negotiate directly with Mr. Putin has caused great alarm in Europe, and led to an almost complete breakdown in relations between the U.S. President and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr. Trump has attacked Mr. Zelensky online, and demanded Ukraine hand over US$500-billion worth of mineral revenues while refusing to give any security guarantees.
Speaking Sunday, Mr. Zelensky, who is trying to rally international support to resist U.S. pressure, said he was hopeful Beijing could play a role in negotiations.
“I think that China has big interests in Europe,” Mr. Zelensky said in English. “I think that in this case, China can help us with any possibilities to stop Putin, and with respect to our territorial integrity.”
He said this would be diplomatic support rather than military, noting “we never asked China about weapons because we know the answer, but I think that China can help us, and if they really have an interest to have a role in this, we are ready to speak about it.”
At a regular news conference Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing’s position on the Ukraine conflict “has been consistent and clear.”
“Since the crisis escalated in full, China has been in communication with all relevant parties, committed to building consensus for peace and laying the groundwork for peace talks,” Mr. Lin said. “China will always stand firmly on the side of peace, uphold an objective and impartial stance, and continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the crisis.”
With reports from Alexandra Li and Reuters