President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday publicly called on U.S. President Donald Trump to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping to end Beijing’s support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine when the two meet later this week, framing China as a crucial pivot. Zelenskyy said he viewed Trump’s impending Asia summit, including a meeting with Xi, as an opportunity for decisive pressure, especially in light of recent U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector.
“I think this may be one of (Trump’s) strong moves, especially if … China is ready to reduce imports” from Russia after recent sanctions, Zelenskyy told reporters. He stressed Ukraine would not negotiate away its territory, declaring that any diplomacy must come from its current position on the ground.
Zelenskyy’s appeal comes as Russian forces mount pressure in eastern Ukraine. He acknowledged that “around 200 Russians” have entered the city of Pokrovsk, a frontline battleground. He also urged European leaders to commit to stable financial support over the next two to three years, warning that protracted conflict may otherwise jeopardize Ukraine’s defense capacity.
The U.S., for its part, last week imposed sanctions on two Russian oil giants and has repeatedly called on major buyers particularly China and India to cut purchases of Moscow’s energy exports. Zelenskyy characterized China’s supply of energy and materials as fueling the Russian war machine, arguing that Beijing holds the leverage to force Moscow to reconsider its aggression.
