U.S. President Donald Trump revealed during a press conference aboard Air Force One that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had engaged in extensive discussions about the Ukraine conflict during their meeting in Busan, South Korea. Trump emphasized that both leaders agreed to collaborate on finding a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

“The situation in Ukraine came up very strongly,” Trump stated, adding that he and Xi spent significant time addressing the issue. He noted that while “sometimes you gotta let them fight,” both nations aimed to work together “to see if we can get something done.” However, Trump clarified that he did not request Xi to halt Chinese purchases of Russian oil, despite prior assurances.

Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of U.S.-China cooperation in tackling global challenges, stating that both countries should “jointly shoulder their responsibility as major powers.” He praised Trump’s efforts to mediate international conflicts and reiterated China’s commitment to promoting peace talks, regardless of the evolving situation in Ukraine.

The two leaders also underscored their shared interest in maintaining stability amid complex geopolitical tensions. Since the conflict escalated in 2022, Russia and China have deepened their partnership, with Beijing emerging as a key buyer of Russian oil following Western sanctions. The nations now describe their relationship as a “strategic partnership without limits.”