China has proposed a summit between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources in Beijing and Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is likely to be excluded from the meeting. Additionally, China has expressed willingness to support peacekeeping measures in the event of a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict.
A White House source told the newspaper that the US and Europe view China’s proposal with skepticism, deeming a summit “absolutely not feasible”.
By making this proposal, Beijing may be aiming to enter into negotiations with Trump to avoid US tariffs. At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely seeking to ensure that his support for conflict resolution does not undermine the Sino-Russian relationship.
On February 12, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a phone call, during which they agreed to organize a personal meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin invited Trump to Moscow. Trump commented on the potential meeting, saying it would take place “in the not-too-distant future” in Saudi Arabia.