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The leaders discussed their future contacts with the new US administration of Donald Trump during a wide-ranging video call, the Kremlin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about ways to strengthen bilateral ties a day later Donald Trump sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
The two leaders discussed their future contacts with the Trump administration during a wide-ranging video call that lasted more than an hour and a half, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Russian media reported that the two leaders talked about boosting trade flows. China is the largest consumer of Russian energy and the largest oil export market for Russia.
Xi and Putin “showed a willingness to build relations with the United States on a mutually beneficial and mutually respectful basis, if the Trump team really shows interest in doing so,” Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow.
“On our side, it was also noted that we are ready for a dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.
For his part, Trump said it was willing to settle Russia's view that Ukraine's right to self-determination can be set aside in favor of peace and stability.
Ushakov said Putin wants long-term peace in Ukraine, not a short-term ceasefire. No specific offers to talk to Trump have been received, he said.
As for Taiwan, Ushakov said Russia has “reaffirmed its unwavering support for the one-China principle.”
China with respect democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. In a New Year's speech, President Xi said no one could stop China's “unification” with Taiwan. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's claims.
Ushakov said the video call between Putin and Xi was planned before Trump's inauguration.
Partnership without limits
China and Russia announced a “no-holds-barred” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing, days before sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. In recent months, Putin has described China as an “ally.”
Trump said he would be tough on China and talk to Putin about ending the war in Ukraine. In remarks to reporters after his inauguration, Trump said Putin should make a deal to end the war because the conflict is destroying Russia.
Xi called for talks to end the war in Ukraine and accused the US of fueling the war by selling weapons to Kiev, which has said it is ready to seek a negotiated solution that respects its interests.
