Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Donald Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin could potentially "regret" his decision to invade Ukraine.
Xi made the remarks during extensive discussions held last week as Trump visited China. According to the Financial Times, Xi's comments on Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine were seen as more direct and explicit than his previous public statements.
Xi's past meetings with former President Joe Biden disclosed that while they had open discussions about Russia and Ukraine, Xi had not previously assessed Putin and the conflict.
The Biden administration repeatedly accused China of supplying Russia with dual-use goods aiding its war in Ukraine, while the Trump administration had raised similar concerns less often.
Meanwhile, in his conversation with Xi, Trump suggested that the U.S., China, and Russia should band together against the International Criminal Court (ICC), asserting their interests were aligned.
Putin's Beijing Visit
This development comes in the wake of Putin's visit to Beijing for a two-day summit with Xi Jinping, starting Tuesday. This marked the second meeting between the Chinese and Russian leaders within a year, as Beijing attempts to balance its relations with Washington and Moscow. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia left Moscow largely isolated and heavily dependent on Beijing for trade amid Western sanctions.
Energy ties are expected to dominate talks as China, now Russia's largest oil and gas buyer, seeks to secure discounted Russian supplies amid heightened energy security concerns following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reported CNBC. Moscow, meanwhile, is relying on energy revenue to support its economy. Last week, Putin said Russia is nearing a major oil and gas agreement with China. At the same time, analysts also expect discussions on increased Chinese investment in Russia's state sector as bilateral trade continues to hit record levels since 2022.
Trump Pushes Ukraine Truce
From May 9 to May 11, Trump announced a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, alongside a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap, calling it a potential step toward ending the war. Amid the rare diplomatic breakthrough, Trump said he hopes the temporary halt in fighting can be extended further.
Earlier in March, Trump said that he believes Putin may be offering 'a bit' of support to Iran amid the escalating U.S.-Iran war, amid reports that Moscow could be sharing intelligence on American military positions. The President compared Russia's alleged assistance to U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
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