Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, symbolizing their unity just hours after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. Speaking from his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow, Putin emphasized the strong relationship between Russia and China, describing it as founded on “shared interests, equality, and mutual benefit,” and referred to Xi as his “dear friend.”
As tensions with the West have escalated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, Moscow has increasingly turned to China for trade and diplomatic support. In return, Beijing has taken advantage of Russia’s isolation from the West to gain preferential access to its resources and markets.
The two nations declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022, shortly before Putin deployed troops to Ukraine. Since then, the leaders have frequently visited each other’s capitals, becoming crucial allies in their mutual aim to reshape the global order in opposition to Western influence.
While neither leader explicitly mentioned Trump during their call, the timing suggests they may be looking to align their strategies in response to the new U.S. administration. Trump has previously threatened tariffs against China and hinted at potential cooperation on regional conflicts and controlling the export of fentanyl production materials. He has also pledged to quickly end the war in Ukraine, a process likely to involve China due to Russia’s increasing reliance on it.
Although there was no official summary of the Putin-Xi conversation, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov indicated that they discussed Trump and the potential for a peace deal regarding Ukraine. Ushakov noted that Moscow is “ready for serious dialogue” with the Trump administration and is awaiting concrete proposals to facilitate discussions between the leaders.
Ushakov’s comments reflect a growing willingness among Russian officials to engage in talks about the Ukraine conflict with Trump, even as a clear path to peace remains uncertain. Putin, who has not yet spoken with Trump, congratulated him on his inauguration during a video call with officials and welcomed Trump’s intention to engage in dialogue with Moscow.
When asked about the Ukraine war shortly after taking office, Trump stated he would meet with Putin “very soon” and criticized the Russian leader for “destroying Russia” by not negotiating a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump also mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed a desire for a peace deal and expressed hope that Putin would follow suit.
