China Tries To Play The Role Of Peacemaker In Ukraine

As President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin signal they are prepared to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, China is pushing to play a role.

- Lingling Wei, Alexander Ward & Laurence Norman

Chinese officials in recent weeks have floated a proposal to the Trump team through intermediaries to hold a summit between the two leaders and to facilitate peacekeeping efforts after an eventual truce, according to people in Beijing and Washington familiar with the matter.

The offer, however, is being met with skepticism in the U.S. and Europe, given deep concerns over the increasingly close ties between Beijing and Moscow.

On Wednesday, Trump said he had engaged with Putin directly to resolve the conflict. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with Putin and both leaders agreed to visit each other's countries and to open immediate talks to end the war in Ukraine. "I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!" he wrote.

Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office that he and Putin will "meet also probably in Saudi Arabia the first time," though he didn't specify when.

The Chinese offer, notably, envisions a U.S.-Russian summit without the involvement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the people in Beijing and Washington. The prospect of the U.S. negotiating the future of Ukraine and of European security with Russia and China is contrary to the West's longstanding pledge to include Ukraine in any talks to decide its future.

The White House declined to confirm whether it had received China's offer, but still rejected it. "Not viable at all," a White House official said.

Asked about the proposal, the Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington said he wasn't aware of it, while adding: "We hope parties will work for de-escalation and strive for political settlement."

Trump had said that he aimed to end the Ukraine-Russia war in his first 24 hours as president. Now, the administration says it will do so within its first 100 days.