August 8th 2025.
On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of Putin's planned summit with US President Donald Trump. The purpose of the call, requested by Putin, was to discuss the ongoing Ukraine war and the recent communications between Russia and the US.
During the call, Putin shared Moscow's views on the current situation in Ukraine and the efforts being made to address the crisis. He also mentioned his recent meeting with Trump's special envoy, Steven Witkoff, who had travelled to Moscow to discuss the conflict.
It was no secret that Trump had been pressuring Putin to end the war, which had started in February 2024 when Russia asserted its territorial claims. According to reports, Trump was hoping to reach a ceasefire agreement followed by a peace deal.
The upcoming summit between Putin and Trump was a significant development, especially considering the personal friendship that had formed between Putin and Xi Jinping in 2013. This friendship had strengthened the already close political and military ties between Russia and China, posing a challenge to the global dominance of the US and European Union. The two leaders had met numerous times and established strong trade relationships, with China becoming the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas.
Despite this close partnership, China had maintained a neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and had denied any involvement in supplying arms to Moscow. During the phone call, Putin reassured Xi that their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination would remain unchanged, regardless of the circumstances.
In addition to discussing the Ukraine crisis, the two leaders also talked about the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1. Putin is expected to attend the summit and then stay in China to witness the massive military parade on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Xi Jinping reiterated China's stance on the Ukraine crisis, stating that they will continue to promote peace talks regardless of how the situation evolves. He emphasized that complex problems require thoughtful solutions and shared China's principles and position on the issue.
Xi also expressed his satisfaction with Russia and the US maintaining contact and improving their relations, as it could help in finding a political solution to the crisis. Both leaders agreed to work together to further develop the already strong China-Russia relations.
Putin expressed his appreciation for China's constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis and stated that Russia is willing to maintain close communication with China. The statement released by the Foreign Ministry concluded by mentioning the positive and productive phone conversation between the two leaders.
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