Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin pledge ‘long-term’ ties amid warming in US-Russia relations

Chinese and Russian leaders hold phone call, reportedly initiated by Putin, on third anniversary of Ukraine war

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) glance at each other before their talks in Beijing, China on May 16 of last year. The two leaders spoke by phone on Monday, according to Chinese state media. Photo: AP

Published: 5:56pm, 24 Feb 2025Updated: 10:05pm, 24 Feb 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin pledged long-term, strategic ties between their countries in a phone call on Monday, amid warming relations between Moscow and Washington.

The call, made on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was initiated by Putin, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

During the “lengthy” call, Putin told Xi about recent engagement between his country and the US, while Xi expressed support for the dialogue between Moscow and Washington as well as readiness to assist in the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

Xi referred to China and Russia as “true friends” who weathered difficulties, supported each other and developed together, according to CCTV.

Xi told Putin that China-Russia relations had “strong endogenous momentum and unique strategic value”, and the development strategies and foreign policies of China and Russia were “for the long term”.

“China-Russia relations will move forward calmly in spite of international vicissitudes, contributing to each other’s development and revitalisation and injecting stability and positive energy into international relations,” Xi said, according to CCTV.