Xi and Putin hold video call after Donald Trump’s inauguration

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a video call Monday hours after Donald Trump was sworn in, vowing to take bilateral ties to “greater heights,” according to both state media.

Calling Xi a “dear friend”, Putin said Russia and China were building relations “based on friendship, mutual trust and support” despite external pressure.

Xi urged Putin to “continue to deepen strategic coordination, strengthen mutual support and protect legitimate interests.”

Trump on Tuesday Beijing threatened tariffscalling it a “mistreatment” and warning that “big problems” will come for Moscow if it does not reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

Putin told Xi, however, that any deal in Ukraine “must respect Russian interests,” according to foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who spoke to reporters after the call.

Beijing has been blamed Building the Moscow war machine Providing critical ingredients for the conflict in Ukraine.

Trade between the two countries reached a record $240bn (£191bn) in 2023, up 64% from 2021, before Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Putin and Xi confirmed their readiness to build mutually beneficial and respectful relations with the US if the Trump group shows interest,” Ushakov said.

However, he said that the call “is in no way related to Trump’s inauguration”.

The call lasted about an hour and a half, and Putin and Xi also discussed the situation in the Middle East, South Korea and Taiwan, according to Ushakov.

Chinese state media said Xi is also willing to work with Putin in response to “external uncertainties,” without specifying specifics.

Xi held a phone call with Trump last week, and the US president called the discussion “very good” for both countries. They talked about trade, fentanyl and TikTok, among other things, he said.

Putin has yet to speak to Trump, but he congratulated him on state television hours before the inauguration.