China said it welcomes increased U.S.-Russia dialogue following President Donald Trump‘s conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Russian Foreign Ministry with written requests for comment outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump said he had a “highly productive” phone call with Putin and that they had agreed to start negotiations on ending the conflict that began nearly three years ago. Trump also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding the conversation “went very well.”
China, which has sought to present itself as a neutral party, has repeatedly called for a return to dialogue to bring the war to a close. Beijing has refused to refer to Moscow’s full-fledged invasion as such, however, and the U.S. and European Union have accused China of fueling Russia’s war machine with oil and natural gas purchases, political support, and a steady stream of dual-use military exports.
What To Know
Asked to comment on the Trump-Putin phone call, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “China is glad to see enhanced communication and dialogue between Russia and the U.S. on a number of international issues.”
“Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the crisis,” Guo said, reiterating that Beijing has called for peace talks since the beginning.
“China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, and will maintain communication with relevant parties and play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis,” the spokesperson added.
The direct U.S.-Russia talks would appear to align with Beijing’s long-held view that the Ukraine crisis is a symptom of long-running “great power” tensions between the United States and NATO on one side and Russia on the other.
Guo’s statement follows a Wall Street Journal report that said China is seeking to play a larger role in an eventual ceasefire.
Chinese officials have reportedly proposed to the Trump administration that China host a summit between Trump and Putin and assist with peacekeeping efforts after a truce. One White House official dismissed the idea as “not viable at all,” the report said.
The proposed summit would exclude Zelensky, sources in the U.S. and China told the newspaper, going against long-held positions in Washington and but especially Brussels that Kyiv must have a seat at the negotiation table.
Trump previously said he would end the war within his first 24 hours in office. His team now maintains this goal will be achieved within the president’s first 100 days in office.
What People Are Saying
John Bolton, national security advisor during Trump’s first term, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“It is unconscionable to allow Russia to assault Ukraine’s sovereignty, recruit enemies like North Korea to aid in their fight, and then sell out the Ukrainians by conceding the loss of their territory and NATO security guarantees or membership. By making these and others concessions before negotiations even started, Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin on Ukraine.”
What’s Next
Trump officials have dismissed as unrealistic the prospect of returning to Ukraine all territory Russia has seized since 2014, such as the Crimean Peninsula, marking an apparent shift in policy toward prioritizing a negotiated settlement.
Trump also does not support granting Ukraine NATO membership, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have led a delegation to Munich, where they are slated to meet with Zelensky on Friday.
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