Russian President Vladimir Putin has briefed Chinese leader Xi Jinping on his recent discussions with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the Ukraine conflict, as anticipation grows for a potential Russia-US summit. According to Chinese media, the leaders’ phone conversation also covered bilateral relations and pressing global challenges.
Putin praised Beijing’s role in promoting dialogue, stating that Moscow “values China’s constructive role in resolving the Ukraine crisis” and is committed to close coordination with its strategic partner.
Xi, in turn, welcomed renewed contacts between Moscow and Washington, stressing that “there are no simple solutions to complex issues,” and reaffirmed China’s pledge to “keep promoting dialogue to resolve regional conflicts.”
Both leaders reaffirmed the strength of their political trust and strategic cooperation. Xi’s office reported that they “unanimously agreed to jointly advance the relations… to greater development,” while the Kremlin confirmed discussions also touched on Putin’s planned visit to China.
The three-hour meeting between Putin and Witkoff earlier this week remains largely confidential, though Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said “signals” on Ukraine and potential strategic cooperation were exchanged. The White House described the talks as having “gone better than expected,” and U.S. President Donald Trump claimed “great progress was made,” without revealing specifics.
Witkoff’s Moscow trip has fueled speculation that a Putin-Trump summit could take place as soon as next week, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as a possible venue.
Moscow maintains that a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine conflict must address its security concerns. In recent months, U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Kiev have led to major prisoner swaps and draft settlement proposals. Russia continues to frame the conflict as a Western proxy war, insisting it would end if Ukraine accepted neutrality and agreed to demilitarization.
This high-level diplomatic engagement could mark a pivotal moment in reshaping the trajectory of the conflict and global power dynamics.
