Former American President Donald Trump stated, after the meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, that the United States and China will collaborate to try to put an end to the war in Ukraine, but added that "sometimes, you have to let them fight." Although Ukraine hopes that the discussions will lead to a reduction in Russian oil imports by China, Trump specified that the energy topic was not addressed, although "the issue of Ukraine was very present."
He also said that Xi "will help us" in peace efforts, while emphasizing that the war does not directly affect either the United States or China, but that "they do not like to see thousands of young people killed." According to analysts cited by Politico, Trump's comments suggest that Beijing perceives Vladimir Putin more as a minor partner than as a strategic ally.