Xi stresses to Putin that he will continue to support efforts to achieve a political solution to the Ukraine war

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3 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin he is willing to continue supporting efforts to promote a political solution to the war in Ukraine during a meeting on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Xi stressed during a meeting with Putin in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, that Beijing is “on the right side of history” and “adheres to promoting peace talks,” according to the Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese leader also stressed that he supports Moscow in its rejection of “illegal unilateral sanctions” imposed by Western countries in retaliation for the war in Ukraine, which broke out on February 24, 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 television that both sides agreed on the “futility” of any format of discussion that did not include Russia’s participation, Interfax news agency reported.

“LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIP” WITH MOSCOW

Xi also said he was in favour of maintaining a “long-lasting friendship” with Moscow, strengthening strategic coordination, resisting foreign interference, and “jointly maintaining peace and stability in the region.” All of this, in the midst of “an international situation plagued by turbulence and change.”

In this regard, his Russian counterpart has expressed his support for Beijing in defending its interests, while opposing interference in China’s internal affairs, focusing on the issue of the South China Sea.

Putin has traveled to Astana for a two-day trip to participate in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana. During a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart, Kasim Jomart Tokayev, he accepted an invitation to visit the Central Asian country in November 2024, the state news agency TASS reported.