China Aligns with Russia’s Position on Ending Ukraine War

On Thursday, China signaled its alignment with Russia’s position on resolving the war in Ukraine following a 7-hour meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following the talks—part of Xi’s ongoing state visit to Moscow—a joint statement was issued that declared: “Moscow and Beijing are convinced that for a long-term settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to eliminate its root causes.”

The reference to “root causes” is significant, echoing language used by President Putin in June of last year when he first publicly outlined Russia’s conditions for ending the conflict. These demands included Ukraine relinquishing control of remaining territories in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk, along with constitutional and political reforms including Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions.

This alignment of policy positions comes as Ukraine and its Western allies continue to push for a short-term ceasefire. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his support for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire along the contact line, a position he also shared in a Truth Social post.

Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office the same day, Trump said he would urge China to help “close the gap” between Moscow and Kiev, indicating that Beijing could play a key diplomatic role in future negotiations.

Russia has long maintained that a temporary ceasefire would merely provide an opportunity for the West to rearm Ukraine and allow its battered military to regroup.

While China’s support does not necessarily imply full endorsement of all Russian objectives or recognition of its territorial claims, it does suggest a strategic convergence. Beijing appears to acknowledge Moscow’s broader concerns about any temporary pause in fighting, and the structural political issues it believes must be addressed to prevent future conflict.

This development may signal that China will not pressure Russia to accept terms that it views as detrimental to its long-term interests, potentially complicating efforts by Western powers to forge a ceasefire on their terms.