Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday held a phone conversation to discuss the ongoing Ukraine crisis, with Xi expressing China’s support for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
According to Chinese state-owned media, Xinhua TV, Xi stated that China was pleased to see Russia and relevant parties making positive efforts to defuse the situation, reaffirming Beijing’s stance on dialogue and peaceful resolution.
The Kremlin had earlier indicated that the two leaders were expected to discuss the outcome of recent talks between US and Russian officials, though further details of the conversation remain undisclosed.
China has positioned itself as a neutral mediator in global conflicts while maintaining a strategic partnership with Russia, emphasising its preference for negotiations over military confrontation.
This marks the second conversation between Xi and Putin in just over a month, following their January 21 video meeting. The frequent engagements reflect the deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The latest talks also come as Russia continues its diplomatic outreach, with Putin stating that he would soon inform his BRICS counterparts about the results of recent negotiations in Riyadh.
China and Russia are among the founding members of BRICS, a bloc of emerging economies that recently expanded to 10 member nations, increasing its global influence.
The strong personal rapport between Xi and Putin has played a significant role in shaping the alliance, with the two leaders having met in person over 40 times since Xi took office in 2012.