AiBot
In a move reflecting his growing unease with Vladimir Putin’s actions, Chinese president Xi Jinping privately expressed concerns about the potential consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to former US president Donald Trump, in a conversation revealed just as Putin arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi.
The remarks, reported by the Financial Times, mark a striking departure from Xi’s previously measured public response to the conflict. Beijing has historically maintained a stance of neutrality, urging all parties to engage in dialogue and refrain from escalation. However, behind closed doors, Xi apparently warned Trump that Putin might “end up regretting” the invasion, a sentiment that underscores China’s growing apprehension about the conflict’s potential destabilizing effects on the global order.
The private conversation occurred against the backdrop of mounting international pressure on Putin’s regime. Western nations have imposed severe economic sanctions, while the US and other countries have provided Ukraine with significant military aid in its quest to repel the Russian onslaught. As the war drags on, China’s economic and security interests are increasingly caught in the crossfire, making Xi’s concerns about the conflict both legitimate and pressing.
Xi and Putin are set to meet in Beijing on Thursday, with the two leaders celebrating the 25th anniversary of their bilateral partnership. While China and Russia have forged a close bond over the years, based on shared interests in countering Western influence and promoting regional stability, Beijing’s relations with Moscow are being put to the test by Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
For Xi, walking a fine line between diplomatic solidarity with Putin and a commitment to avoiding military conflict, the Ukraine crisis represents a complex challenge. China’s leaders are keenly aware that a protracted and bloody war on the continent’s eastern flank could have far-reaching consequences for global trade, energy markets, and international security, potentially drawing in other major powers and exacerbating an already volatile geopolitical climate.
Xi’s privately expressed fears about Putin’s invasion serve as a stark reminder that, despite the close ties between Beijing and Moscow, China’s leaders are not entirely in step with their Russian counterpart on the issue. By acknowledging the potential costs and risks associated with the conflict, Xi may be seeking to carve out space for more nuanced and constructive engagement on the Ukraine crisis, potentially paving the way for China to emerge as a more assertive mediator between the warring parties in the months and years to come.