Chinese and Russian leaders engaged in a telephone conversation Monday as the Ukraine war entered its third year, amid growing signals of potential peace negotiations. The discussion between Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin occurred just as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached out to former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a proposed mineral agreement.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the call was initiated by Putin and took place Monday afternoon. During the exchange, Xi emphasized the distinctive strategic relationship between China and Russia, stating it neither targets nor is influenced by external parties.
The timing is significant, coming precisely three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and following the establishment of what both nations termed a “no limits” partnership just before the conflict began. The leaders have maintained strong ties, meeting numerous times over the past decade.
In a parallel development, Zelensky addressed a forum in Kyiv discussing Ukraine’s future, where he expressed willingness to step down from his position under two conditions: either the successful implementation of a peace agreement or Ukraine’s acceptance into NATO. He specifically addressed Trump, seeking to establish a mineral deal and requesting that any potential meeting between Trump and Putin be preceded by a visit to Kyiv. Zelensky warned that a reverse sequence could damage U.S. public confidence.
Plans for a Trump-Putin meeting represent a marked departure from previous Western diplomatic approaches, which sought to isolate Russia internationally following its Ukrainian invasion. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented Saturday on the potential meeting, emphasizing the importance of normalizing relations and addressing critical situations, particularly regarding Ukraine.
The Chinese state media’s account of the Xi-Putin call indicated Beijing’s positive reception of Moscow’s efforts toward resolving the Ukrainian conflict. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for direct communication between Putin and Trump, suggesting that opportunities for peace are emerging.
The continuing “no limits” partnership between China and Russia remains a source of Western concern, particularly as critics argue that the current U.S. administration’s foreign policy approach has resulted in strengthened economic and military ties between these two major powers.
The developments come at a crucial juncture in the conflict, with various international players showing increased interest in finding a diplomatic solution. The potential involvement of Trump in peace negotiations adds a new dimension to the diplomatic landscape, although specific details of any proposed agreement remain unclear.
The timing of these diplomatic maneuvers coincides with growing international pressure for a resolution to the conflict, which has had far-reaching implications for global security and economic stability. The willingness of key players to engage in dialogue suggests a possible shift in the diplomatic dynamics surrounding the Ukraine crisis.
These recent developments mark a potential turning point in the conflict, with major powers showing increased openness to diplomatic engagement. The convergence of Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian diplomatic initiatives, along with the potential involvement of former President Trump, could signal new opportunities for progress toward peace negotiations, though significant challenges and complexities remain in achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict.