Xi Reportedly Warned Trump That Putin Could Regret Ukraine War

Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly told US President Donald Trump during their recent talks in Beijing that Russian President Vladimir Putin could eventually come to regret launching the invasion of Ukraine, according to information published by the Financial Times citing people familiar with the discussions.

The reported remarks were made during broader conversations covering Ukraine, global security, and international institutions. According to sources cited by the newspaper, Trump also suggested during the meeting that the United States, China, and Russia should cooperate in opposing the International Criminal Court, arguing that the three powers share common interests on the issue.

The Financial Times noted that Xi’s comments appeared more direct than his previous public or private assessments of the war. People familiar with earlier meetings between Xi and former US President Joe Biden said the Chinese leader had previously spoken openly about the conflict, but had stopped short of explicitly judging Putin or criticizing the decision to invade Ukraine.

The reports surfaced just before Putin’s scheduled visit to China on May 19 for another summit with Xi, only days after the Chinese president hosted Trump in Beijing. The timing has drawn attention as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year and battlefield conditions increasingly resemble a prolonged stalemate.

According to the report, China’s assessment of the conflict may also be evolving as Ukraine intensifies long-range drone operations against Russian military infrastructure. European officials have recently argued that such strikes could force Moscow to reconsider its military calculations.

Neither the Chinese embassy in Washington nor the White House publicly commented on the reported exchange between Xi and Trump. A factsheet released by the Trump administration after the summit also omitted any reference to Putin or Ukraine-related discussions.

At the same time, Putin’s upcoming visit to Beijing is expected to focus heavily on energy cooperation, particularly the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project. Bloomberg reported that Moscow hopes turbulence in global energy markets linked to the Middle East conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could encourage Beijing to soften its negotiating position on gas pricing.

Russian officials have indicated that discussions on the pipeline remain active. “We’re committed to discussing it seriously,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding that the matter would likely feature prominently in talks between Putin and Xi.

Sources close to Russia’s energy sector said Gazprom has already presented what it considers a favorable pricing proposal for future gas supplies through the route, which would connect Siberia with China through Mongolia. However, Chinese officials have reportedly shown limited enthusiasm so far.

The Kremlin is expected to send a large delegation to Beijing, including deputy prime ministers, ministers, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, and executives from major state corporations. Putin and Xi are scheduled to hold formal talks on May 20 before continuing discussions later in the evening.

The diplomatic sequence highlights China’s increasingly central role between Washington and Moscow. Bloomberg noted that this is already the second time this year that Xi has held high-level talks with Trump and Putin within days of one another, underscoring Beijing’s position at the center of several overlapping geopolitical and economic crises.