Zelensky tells Trump: China's leader Xi has influence over Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that during a meeting with US President Donald Trump he raised the idea of involving Chinese leader Xi Jinping in negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Zelensky disclosed this in a post on social media.

According to Zelensky, Trump was scheduled to meet with China's leader the following day. The Ukrainian president said he told Trump directly that if the US president also engaged Xi in the process, it could help, since the Chinese leader has influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky stressed that if the goal is truly to end the war rather than just talk about it, everyone involved needs to work on it around the clock, for the sake of the people affected.

Earlier statements

Before this remark, Zelensky had already said at a press conference following his talks with Trump that he was ready to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and that the US president could help arrange a trilateral meeting.

Zelensky also said the United States would pass along Ukraine's proposal for an energy-related truce to the Russian side. He additionally noted that Trump has responded positively to the idea of granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles.