...
By Micah McCartney
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Chinese media has responded following the adversarial meeting between Donald Trump's and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office Friday.
Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian foreign ministry by email with a request for comment.
Why It Matters
Tensions flared during the live, televised discussion after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned U.S. President Donald Trump's trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing his past violations of agreements and land grabs—first in 2014 and again with its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Read More on World
The leaders had planned to sign a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources. Trump downplayed the possibility of another Russian offensive, stating he'd known Putin "for a long time" and criticizing Zelenskyy for his "tremendous hatred" toward Putin.
What To Know
Asked about the curtailed meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Monday that Beijing would "work for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and achieve peace, and play a constructive role."
...
Responding to speculation about Chinese peacekeepers being part of security assurances in a future peace agreement, he stressed that China "is not a party to the conflict but supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis."
Despite China's official neutrality on Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have accused Beijing of helping sustain Russia's war effort through record trade flows and exports of drone parts and other dual-use goods.
What's Being Said
Shen Yi, a professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, wrote in a Saturday op-ed on state-aligned Chinese nationalistic news website Guancha: "For other nations watching this unfold, three key lessons should now be obvious:
- Those who cling to the U.S. take a major risk—and the consequences can be dire.
- Power, strength, and self-reliance are the only true guarantees of security.
- If the U.S. is no longer a viable option and Moscow is unappealing, there is another way—one that could bring "clarity in the mountain breeze and serenity in the flowing river."
What's Next?
On Sunday, Zelensky told the BBC that despite the debacle, he considered Ukraine's efforts "constructive" and remained "ready" to sign a minerals deal with the U.S.
Meanwhile, European leaders quickly rallied behind Zelensky in the aftermath of his tense exchange with Trump. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new $2 billion military aid package, which includes 5,000 air defense missiles to help bolster Ukraine's defenses amid ongoing Russian attacks.
Update 3/3/25, 12:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines