President Xi Jinping Speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Phone

On the afternoon of February 25, 2022, President Xi Jinping spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone. 

President Xi thanked President Putin once again for coming to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and congratulated Russian athletes on winning the second largest number of medals. President Putin extended warm congratulations to all the Chinese people on the success of the Olympic Winter Games and the excellent performance of the Chinese sports delegation. 

The two presidents exchanged views with a focus on the current situation in Ukraine. 

President Putin set forth the historical context of the Ukrainian issue, Russia's special military operation in eastern Ukraine and its position. He noted that the United States and NATO have long turned a blind eye to Russia's legitimate security concerns, and have repeatedly negated their promises to Russia. Their continued military deployment eastward has challenged Russia's strategic red line. He also expressed Russia's willingness to have high-level negotiation with Ukraine. 

President Xi noted that the dramatic change of the situation in eastern Ukraine recently has attracted a high level of attention from the international community. China determines its position concerning the Ukrainian issue on its own merits. It is important to reject Cold War mentality, take seriously and respect the reasonable security concerns of all countries and reach a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation. China supports Russia in resolving the issue through negotiation with Ukraine. China has long held the basic position of respecting all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is prepared to work with other members of the international community to promote common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and to resolutely safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.