BEIJING — In a recent phone conversation, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his approval of Russia’s initiatives to organize a summit with the United States aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by state media.
During the discussion, Russian President Vladimir Putin provided Xi with updates regarding the latest interactions with the U.S., although the details of these exchanges were not disclosed.
Xi conveyed that China appreciates the “positive efforts” made by Russia and other involved parties in seeking a resolution to the ongoing crisis. Furthermore, the Chinese administration expressed its willingness to support the dialogue between Russia and the United States, indicating readiness to assist in achieving a peaceful resolution, as highlighted in a statement from the Kremlin.
This call coincided with a visit from several leaders from Europe and Canada to Ukraine’s capital, intended to commemorate the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion and to demonstrate solidarity with Kyiv.
Additionally, President Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to its diplomatic initiatives, which includes a group known as “Friends of Peace,” established in September last year with several other nations to foster efforts aimed at ending the conflict. He also pointed out that a joint peace proposal was issued by China and Brazil the previous year, which advocates for a peace conference involving both Ukraine and Russia while urging for no further escalation of the conflict.
The camaraderie between Xi and Putin is evident in their nations’ relationship, with China becoming increasingly reliant on Russian energy supplies and technologies in light of extensive Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
