Putin, Xi Hold Discussion Tuesday      01/21 06:08

   

   MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin had a call Tuesday with 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the two countries' close ties, a day 
after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.

   The two leaders have developed strong personal links that helped bring 
relations between Moscow and Beijing, growing even closer after Putin sent 
troops into Ukraine in 2022. China has become a major customer of Russian oil 
and gas and a source of key technologies amid sweeping Western sanctions on 
Moscow.

   In Tuesday's call with Xi, Putin emphasized that Russia-China relations are 
based on shared interests, equality and mutual benefits, noting that they 
"don't depend on internal political factors and the current international 
environment."

   "We jointly support the development of a more just multipolar global order 
and work to ensure indivisible security in Eurasia and the world as a whole," 
Putin told Xi in remarks carried by the Russian state TV. "Joint efforts by 
Russia and China play an important stabilizing role in global affairs."

   Xi similarly praised close cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, saying it 
helps "bring positive energy to reforming and developing the global system."

   While neither leader directly mentioned Trump in the televised fragment of 
their call, the timing of the conversation may signal that Putin and Xi want to 
coordinate their action in dialogue with the new U.S. administration.

   The Chinese president had a call with Trump on Friday and expressed hope for 
positive ties with the U.S.

   Trump had threatened to impose tariffs and other measures against China in 
his second term, while also hinting at ways in which the two rival powers could 
cooperate on issues such as regional conflicts and curbing the export of 
substances used in the production of fentanyl.

   Putin, who is yet to talk to Trump, congratulated him on taking office in 
televised remarks during a video call with officials and welcomed his intention 
to open a dialogue with Moscow.

   Trump told reporters Monday after taking office that Ukrainian President 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told him he wanted to make a peace deal and voiced hope 
that Putin would follow suit. He added that Putin would be destroying Russia by 
failing to make a deal, pointing out Russia's economic troubles, including high 
inflation.

   Putin hailed Trump's openness to dialogue as he spoke to Russia's Security 
Council members shortly before the U.S. president's inauguration.

   "We hear the statements from Trump and members of his team about their 
desire to restore direct contact with Russia, which were halted through no 
fault of ours by the outgoing administration," Putin said on Monday. "We also 
hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III. 
We certainly welcome such an approach and congratulate the U.S. president-elect 
on taking office."

   The Russian leader also stressed that dialogue between the two nations 
should be based on "equal basis and mutual respect, taking into account the 
important role our countries play on some key issues on the global agenda, 
including the strengthening of global stability and security."

   Putin also noted that Moscow is open to dialogue with the Trump 
administration on the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the need to respect 
Russia's interests and adding that "the most important thing is to remove the 
root causes of the crisis."

   "As for the settlement of the situation, I would like to underline that its 
goal should not be a short truce, not some kind of respite for regrouping 
forces and rearmament with the aim of subsequently continuing the conflict, but 
a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, 
all nations living in this region," Putin said.