US President Donald Trump has publicly assessed Chinese leader Xi Jinping's position regarding Russia's war against Ukraine, calling it "fair." According to RBC-Ukraine, the American leader made this remark while speaking with journalists when asked if he was ready to discuss the Ukrainian issue at a potential meeting with the Chinese leader.
"He Didn't Interfere Too Actively"
"I would do it, but for now, I think he was quite fair on the issue of Ukraine. He didn't interfere too actively, and the same goes for Russia. They haven't done anywhere near as much as they could have, and I appreciate that. They know I appreciate that," the publication quotes Trump as saying. Thus, the American leader effectively praised Beijing for its restraint, noting that China did not engage in more active interference in the conflict, although, according to him, it had the opportunity to do so.
Beijing's Ambiguous Role
At the same time, China's position on Russia's war against Ukraine remains extremely ambiguous. Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping himself, declare their "neutrality" and a desire for the conflict to end. At the same time, according to open data, Chinese companies are massively supplying Russia with dual-use goods: using Chinese components, Russian manufacturers produce drones and missiles that are subsequently used to strike Ukraine.
Contacts with Moscow and Kyiv
During the full-scale war, Xi Jinping has met with Vladimir Putin multiple times, strengthening cooperation between the two countries, and has criticized Western sanctions against Russia. Against this backdrop, according to open data, he has held only one phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The contrast in the frequency and format of contacts with the two capitals underscores the complex trajectory of Chinese policy in the conflict.
Broader Context of US-China Relations
Trump's statement came against the backdrop of intensive contacts between Washington and Beijing: earlier, on September 24, the leaders of the two countries held a meeting at the White House, and the US president also publicly commented on Xi Jinping's health, calling it "ideal." A separate episode was Trump's conflict with CNN and MS NOW TV channels, which he accused of refusing to cover the arrival of the PRC delegation to the White House. Taken together, these events form a picture of a pragmatic but tense dialogue between the world's two largest economies, in which the Ukrainian issue remains one of the sensitive points.
