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Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian security issues, and cross-strait ties between China and Taiwan. You can get in touch with Micah by emailing m.mccartney@newsweek.com.
China News Reporter
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday during a phone call, during which the leaders praised Moscow-Beijing ties as a stabilizing force in international affairs.
Newsweek reached out to Russian Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment.
Why It Matters
Putin and Xi declared a "no limits" friendship on the eve of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. China's discounted purchases of Russian natural gas and oil have helped sustain Moscow's wartime economy, while Chinese companies and exports blunted the impact of sanctions and the exodus of Western businesses from the Russian market.
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia for an initial round of talks aimed at eventually ending the war and restoring U.S.-Russia ties. Ukrainian and European Union officials expressed frustration that they were not invited to the meeting.
What To Know
Putin called Xi on Friday afternoon, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Putin briefed Xi on the recent talks with U.S. officials and stressed Russia is committed to eliminating the root cause of the war and arriving at a lasting plan for peace, the ministry said.
Xi welcomed the dialogue with Washington and said Beijing stands ready to explore ways to bring the conflict to a peaceful close, a Kremlin statement said.
Both sides agreed that China-Russia ties were "a stabilizing factor in global affairs," the Kremlin said. "This relationship is strategic in nature, not subject to political bias, and not aimed against anyone."
Putin also emphasized that developing relations with China is a strategic, "long-term" choice and not an "act of expediency," the Chinese press release said.
Putin and Xi also spoke in a video call on January 21.
What People Are Saying
Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters Monday: "China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, China has stayed in communication with relevant parties and been committed to building consensus for ending the conflict and paving the way for peace talks.
"China will always stand firm on the side of peace, uphold an objective and fair position, and continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in advancing the political settlement of the crisis."
What Happens Next?
U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet again in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Tuesday for a second round of bilateral talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country would reject any agreement reached without its involvement.
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About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian security issues, and cross-strait ties between China and Taiwan. You can get in touch with Micah by emailing m.mccartney@newsweek.com.
Micah McCartney
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ...
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