China has voiced its support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, during a G20 meeting in South Africa. Meanwhile, U.S. allies have rallied behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in response to escalating tensions.
“China supports all efforts conducive to peace in Ukraine, including the recent consensus reached between the United States and Russia,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the meeting in Johannesburg on Thursday, according to a statement from his ministry.
Wang added that China is “willing to continue playing a constructive role in the political resolution of the crisis.” However, he did not repeat his earlier call at the Munich Security Conference for all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to participate in peace talks.
Trump, less than a month into his presidency, has dramatically shifted U.S. policy on the war by initiating direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin and holding talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials—moves that have excluded Ukraine. On Wednesday, Trump further inflamed tensions by labeling Zelenskyy a “dictator,” prompting strong support for the Ukrainian leader from G20 nations like Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it had agreed to further discussions with Russia to resolve the nearly three-year conflict. This followed a 4.5-hour meeting in Saudi Arabia. Russia described the talks as “useful” but reinforced its demands, including its opposition to NATO granting membership to Ukraine.
As the diplomatic rift widens, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being influenced by a “Russian disinformation bubble,” while Trump dismissed Zelenskyy as a “modestly successful comedian” and blamed him for initiating the war with Russia in February 2022.
