The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held a video call with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a symbolic display of unity just hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the US.
Speaking from his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Putin highlighted the close ties between the two countries, stating that their relations were based on “shared interests, equality, and mutual benefit“, calling Xi his “dear friend”.
Moscow has grown increasingly reliant on China as a trade partner and a crucial diplomatic ally amid its escalating conflict with the west after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. In turn, Beijing has capitalised on Russia’s isolation from the west to secure preferential access to its resources and markets.
The two countries declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. The two leaders have since then frequently visited each other’s capitals and have become indispensable allies in their shared goal of reshaping the global order in opposition to the west.
Although neither leader directly mentioned Trump in the televised segment of their call, the timing of their conversation may indicate that Putin and Xi are hoping to coordinate their approach to engaging with the new US administration.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and other measures against China in his second term, while he has also hinted at ways the two rival powers could cooperate on issues such as regional conflicts and curbing the export of substances used in the production of fentanyl.
Trump has vowed to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, a move that will probably involve China, given Russia’s growing dependence on Beijing.
There was no official readout from the Putin-Xi call, but the Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov stated that they discussed talks with Trump and the prospects for a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Ushakov added that Moscow was “ready for serious dialogue” with the Trump administration over Ukraine and was awaiting concrete proposals that could serve as the foundation for talks between the leaders.
Ushakov’s remarks were the latest in a series of comments from Russian officials indicating their willingness to discuss the war in Ukraine with Trump, although a clear path to peace remains elusive.
Putin, who is yet to talk to Trump, congratulated him on taking office on Monday in televised remarks during a video call with officials and welcomed his intention to open a dialogue with Moscow.
Asked about the war in Ukraine shortly after his inauguration, Trump said he would meet Putin “very soon” and that his Russian counterpart was “destroying Russia” by refusing to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Trump also told reporters that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had told him he wanted to make a peace deal and voiced hope that Putin would follow suit. “I think Russia is in big trouble,” Trump said, claiming that 1 million Russian soldiers had died in the war in Ukraine and saying the conflict was taking a severe toll on the Russian economy.
