Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday he believes U.S. President Donald Trump could play a decisive role in changing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine, signaling cautious optimism about U.S. efforts to rally global pressure on Moscow.
“I think that President Trump can change the attitude of Xi Jinping to this war, because China, we don’t feel that China wants to finish this war,” Zelenskyy told Fox News’ Special Report after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
Washington has repeatedly accused Beijing and New Delhi of indirectly enabling Russia’s war effort through continued purchases of Russian oil.
According to Reuters, Trump recently urged European Union leaders to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports to deter such purchases, a move that, if adopted, would mark a shift from Europe’s sanctions-first approach. He has also pushed for similar tariffs targeting India.
Despite the tensions, Zelenskyy said he believes India is “mostly” aligned with Ukraine’s position and can be drawn closer with the right diplomatic effort.
“I think we have to do everything not to withdraw Indians and they will change their attitude to [the] Russian energy sector,” he said. “With China, it’s more difficult because…for today, it’s not in their interests not to support Russia.”
A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington rejected accusations of siding with Moscow, insisting Beijing has maintained a neutral position and continues to call for de-escalation and peace talks. The Indian Embassy did not immediately comment.
Trump has voiced frustration over the protracted conflict, now in its fourth year, and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to secure a swift victory.
“Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a war that should have taken a real military power less than a week to win,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling Russia’s economic position “big trouble.”
Zelenskyy welcomed the remarks, saying they signaled strong U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim all of its territory from Russian control.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
