US President Donald Trump has said he could seek China’s help in his efforts to facilitate peace between Russia and Ukraine. He believes Beijing could help bring the positions of Moscow and Kiev closer, making peace talks possible.
“It is a natural thing to ask,” the president said when asked by a journalist whether he could ask China to help bridge the gap between Russia and Ukraine. “I think so, yes,” he replied.
Relations between Washington and Beijing have recently been strained due to Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods. The president cited national security and trade imbalance concerns to justify the move. Beijing has accused Washington of “economic bullying,” retaliating with 125% tariffs on all US imports and implementing export controls.
On Thursday, Trump expressed his hope that the two nations could resolve their differences and make a deal that would benefit both sides. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said last week that it was evaluating the possibility of trade negotiations with the US but reiterated that Washington must show “sincerity” by canceling its tariffs if it wants meaningful dialogue.
Trump’s statement on Thursday came as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia. Xi is among more than two dozen world leaders expected to attend events in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Chinese leader also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin which lasted more than seven hours.
Before the talks, Xi praised the close relations between the two nations. China is ready to “jointly bear a special responsibility with Russia, as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council” in the face of “negative trends of unilateral actions and power-based coercion in the world,” he said.
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