Xi and Putin hold phone call on Ukraine war anniversary state media says

BEIJING - China’s President Xi Jinping spoke with his ally Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Feb 24, China’s state media reported, on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Xinhua news agency reported Mr Xi as saying “China is happy to see Russia and relevant parties make positive efforts to defuse” the crisis in Ukraine.

China and Russia declared a “no limits” strategic partnership, days before Mr Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Mr Xi has met Putin over 40 times in the past decade and Putin in recent months described China as an “ally”.

Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for its role in the war, straining its ties with Europe and the US as a result.

It was the second call both leaders have held in 2025, after they discussed how to build ties with US President Donald Trump, along with prospects for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, in January.

Mr Trump is pushing for a quick deal to end the war in Ukraine, alarming Washington’s European allies by leaving them and Ukraine out of initial talks with Russia and blaming Ukraine for Russia’s 2022 invasion, political gifts for Moscow that could also bring strong economic benefits.

Xinhua reported Mr Xi as saying that “history and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbours that cannot be moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe, support each other and achieve common development”.

Both sides have made much of Mr Xi and Mr Putin’s supposedly strong personal bond, with Mr Xi calling the Russian leader his “best friend” and Mr Putin lauding his “reliable partner”. REUTERS, AFP