Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed on Tuesday how to build ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, the prospects for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine and Moscow's firm support for Beijing's position on Taiwan.
Xi and Putin, who spoke for an hour and 35 minutes via video link the day after Trump took office, pledged to further deepen their countries' strategic partnership, which has worried the West.
China and Russia declared a "no-holds-barred" partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing, days before he sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine. Putin has referred to China as an "ally" in recent months.
Putin, speaking from his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow, and Xi, speaking from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, called each other "dear friend," and Xi briefed Putin on last week's conversation with Trump about TikTok, trade and Taiwan.
Xi and Putin "indicated a readiness to build relations with the United States on a mutually beneficial basis with mutual respect, if the Trump team really shows interest in this," Kremlin aide for foreign policy 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."
Ushakov said Putin wants long-term peace in Ukraine, not a short-term ceasefire, but that any deal must take into account Russia's interests. He added that there were no concrete proposals for talks with Trump.
Trump said he would be tough on China and would talk to Putin about ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters after his inauguration, Trump said Putin should make a deal to end the war because the conflict was destroying Russia.
Xi has previously called for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and accused the US of fueling the war by supplying weapons to Kiev, which says it is ready to seek a negotiated solution while respecting its interests.
Trump described Xi as a "good poker player" and said he got along "great" with Putin, but that during his first term he warned the Russian leader that the US could strike Moscow if Moscow went further in Ukraine.
Putin and Xi share a similar worldview, which portrays the West as decadent and in decline while China seeks to challenge US dominance in many areas.
"We jointly advocate for building a more just multipolar world order and work in the interests of ensuring indivisible security in the Eurasian space and in the world as a whole," Putin said.
Ushakov said he saw a conversation between Putin and Xi planned before Trump's inauguration.
The US considers China its biggest competitor, and Russia the biggest threat coming from any country.
Regarding Taiwan, Ushakov said that Russia "confirmed its unwavering position of supporting the one-China principle."
China considers Taiwan, an island with a democratic government, as its territory and Xi said in a New Year's speech that no one can prevent the "reunification" of China with Taiwan.
The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's claims. It says only the people of Taiwan can decide their own future and that Beijing should respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.
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