Unbreakable Bonds: Xi Tells Putin China-Russia Ties Won’t Waver Amid U.S. Pivot

China and Russia remain steadfast allies, with their relationship “unshakable,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. This declaration came during their first phone call since U.S. President Donald Trump dramatically shifted American foreign policy by warming relations with Moscow in a bid to broker peace in Ukraine.

The timing of the call, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sends a clear message: Beijing has no intention of letting its close ties with Moscow be influenced by Washington’s overtures.

China and Russia: “Good Neighbors That Cannot Be Moved Away”

“History and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe,” Xi told Putin, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. This phrase echoes a sentiment he used in 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Reaffirming their long-term strategic alignment, Xi emphasized that their bond would not be swayed by “any third party.” He added, “Despite changes in the international situation, China-Russia relations will proceed with ease.”

The Kremlin described the conversation as “warm and friendly,” though its readout lacked the same emphasis on the depth of ties as Beijing’s. “The leaders particularly emphasized that the Russian-Chinese foreign policy link is the most important stabilizing factor in world affairs. It is strategic in nature, is not subject to external influence, and is not directed against anyone,” Moscow stated.

A Shifting Global Landscape

The call came amid a dramatic transformation in global diplomacy, with Trump’s administration actively engaging Moscow in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Last week, top U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia, with reports indicating Washington may be open to meeting some of Moscow’s demands—raising concerns in Kyiv and Europe about a settlement being negotiated over their heads.

Trump has also echoed Kremlin rhetoric on the war while sharply criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to readouts from both sides, Putin updated Xi on his latest contacts with U.S. officials.

China, which has positioned itself as neutral in the conflict, expressed cautious optimism about Washington-Moscow dialogue. “China is pleased to see Russia and other parties making positive efforts to resolve the crisis,” Xinhua reported. Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Beijing supported ongoing talks and was ready to assist in finding a peaceful resolution.

U.S. Policy Raises Questions About China-Russia Ties

Despite claiming neutrality, China has emerged as a key economic and diplomatic supporter of Russia since the invasion, with NATO accusing Beijing of supplying dual-use goods that bolster Moscow’s defense sector. China, however, insists its trade with Russia is “normal.”

Xi and Putin’s partnership—solidified weeks before the invasion with a “no limits” agreement—has long been defined by mutual opposition to Western influence. But Trump’s latest diplomatic moves have sparked speculation about whether Washington could exploit potential fractures in their alliance.

After a meeting of U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that future “geopolitical and economic cooperation” between Washington and Moscow was on the table. Additionally, Trump’s Russia-Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, recently hinted that the U.S. could pressure Putin into reconsidering his ties with Iran, North Korea, and China.

Putin, in remarks on Russian state television, signaled openness to discussing Trump’s proposal that the U.S., Russia, and China cut defense spending by 50%. However, he noted that Beijing would join only “if it wanted to.”

China Watches U.S.-Russia Talks With Caution

Chinese officials have reacted cautiously to the developing U.S.-Russia diplomacy. At a security conference in Munich earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for peace talks but insisted that “all parties and all stakeholders” should be involved.

However, this stance seemed to soften days later during a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, where Wang met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. There, the two reaffirmed their countries’ deepening cooperation. Wang stated that China “supports all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent consensus reached between the U.S. and Russia,” adding that a “window for peace is opening.”

Ukraine War Enters Its Fourth Year

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began three years ago, has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions. The war has ravaged Ukrainian cities and drawn widespread accusations of war crimes against Moscow’s forces, which continue to hold territories in eastern and southern Ukraine.

As global power dynamics shift, Beijing and Moscow remain closely aligned—at least for now. But with Washington’s latest maneuvers, the coming months could test just how unbreakable their bond truly is.