US urges Xi to press Putin on alleged “war crimes” in Ukraine

• NSC spokesman urged Mr. Xi to persuade his Russian counterpart to withdraw troops from Ukraine.
• According to John Kirby, seeking a cease-fire will not suffice.
• There are fears that China’s support for Russia will evolve into military support.

The US has urged China President Xi Jinping to persuade Vladimir Putin to “halt the war crimes” in Ukraine.

The two will meet again for official talks on Tuesday, during Mr. Xi’s first visit to Moscow since the invasion.

The National Security Council spokesman for the White House urged Mr. Xi to persuade his Russian counterpart to withdraw troops from Ukraine.

According to John Kirby, seeking a cease-fire will not suffice.

“We hope that President Xi will press President Putin to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, hospitals, and schools, to halt the war crimes and atrocities, and to withdraw his troops,” he said.

“But we are concerned that instead, China will reiterate calls for a ceasefire that leaves Russian forces inside Ukraine’s sovereign territory and any ceasefire that does not address the removal of Russian forces from Ukraine would effectively ratify Russia’s illegal conquests.”

Hours of informal talks

Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin spent more than four hours of “informal” talks on Monday, with more official meetings slated for Tuesday.

There are fears that China’s support for Russia, which is presently centered on technology and trade, will evolve into military support, potentially involving artillery shells.

Mr. Putin has said he will consider a 12-point plan provided by Mr. Xi to “settle the acute crisis in Ukraine”.

“We’re always open for a negotiation process,” Mr. Putin said, as the leaders called each other “dear friends”.

Last month, China announced its strategy to end the war, which includes “ceasing hostilities” and resuming peace talks.

China’s approach made no mention of Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine, which Ukraine has stressed is a prerequisite for any negotiations.

Unilateral sanctions

Instead, it talked of “respecting the sovereignty of all countries”, adding that “all parties must stay rational and exercise restraint” and “gradually de-escalate the situation”.

The plan also opposed the use of “unilateral sanctions,” which was interpreted as a veiled criticism of Ukraine’s Western backers.

A military band welcomed Mr. Xi to Moscow on the first day of his three-day tour on Monday. Mr. Putin lauded China for “observing the principles of fairness” and fighting for “undivided security for every country”.

He added that China had made” a tremendous leap forward in its development” in recent years, remarking: “We even feel a bit envious.”

In return, Mr. Xi told Mr. Putin: “Under your strong leadership, Russia has made great strides in its prosperous development. I am confident that the Russian people will continue to give you their firm support.”

Before Mr. Xi arrived, Mr. Putin stated in China’s People’s Daily that “aggressive” US behavior would not harm the two countries.

Ukrainian authorities have officially emphasized their shared values with China, such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, but secretly, they have lobbied for a meeting or phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr. Xi.

Positive role

Mr. Kirby, the US security spokesperson, repeated this, urging Mr. Xi to “take a positive role” in the effort to end the dispute by communicating with Mr. Zelenskyy.

Russia provides energy to Beijing’s massive economy and is viewed as a partner in opposing the US.

In another event, Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has indicated that he will visit Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with President Zelensky. Following Russia’s invasion, he is expected to express sympathy and support for Ukraine.

Mr. Xi’s visit to Moscow comes just days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges. This means that Mr. Putin might be detained in 123 nations, however, neither China nor Russia is on that list.

Western officials have been striving to isolate Russia since last February, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Yet, they have been unable to reach a worldwide agreement, with China, India, and numerous African countries refusing to denounce Mr. Putin.

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