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US President Donald Trump personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine war, seeking to leverage Beijing’s influence over Moscow to resolve a conflict now in its fifth year, according to multiple sources cited by the South China Morning Post.

Coverage Comparison

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) provided the primary coverage of this development, reporting that Trump made the appeal during last month’s leaders’ summit in Beijing. The report cites people familiar with the discussions, indicating that Trump told Xi that Russia-Ukraine negotiations were stalled and pressed him to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

SCMP’s coverage emphasizes the diplomatic significance of Trump’s personal appeal, framing it as a recognition of Washington’s need for Beijing’s involvement in ending a war that Trump has made a centerpiece of his foreign policy agenda since returning to the White House.

No other outlet’s coverage was available for comparison, so this report relies solely on SCMP’s account.

Key Claims

  • Trump’s Personal Appeal: According to sources familiar with the discussions, Trump personally urged Xi to help end the Ukraine war, seeking to leverage Beijing’s influence over Moscow. This claim is reported by SCMP, citing multiple sources.
  • Stalled Negotiations: Trump reportedly told Xi that Russia-Ukraine negotiations were stalled and pressed him to bring Putin back to the table to negotiate with Zelensky. This detail comes from a single source and has not been independently verified.
  • Battlefield Progress for Ukraine: Ukraine recently regained more ground than it had ceded in years, according to a senior Ukrainian commander who spoke to Reuters. This was noted in the context of the summit, suggesting Ukraine’s position had improved.
  • Russia’s Massive Strike: Last month, Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine, deploying 600 drones and 90 missiles, including the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile. This claim is reported by a single source and has not been confirmed by other outlets.
  • Collapse of Negotiations: Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul in July 2025 ended without a ceasefire agreement, and negotiations have largely collapsed since then. This is reported by SCMP and attributed to the same source.
  • Trump’s Pressure on Zelensky: Trump has been pressuring Zelensky to reach a deal with Russia, telling him in March to “get on the ball.” This quote is reported by a single source.

Perspectives

US Perspective: The Trump administration’s appeal to Xi reflects its stated goal of ending the war quickly, leveraging China’s relationship with Russia as a diplomatic channel. Trump’s pressure on Zelensky to negotiate aligns with his campaign promise to resolve the conflict.

Chinese Perspective: Beijing has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and maintains a neutral stance in public, while strengthening its partnership with Russia. Xi’s response to Trump’s appeal was not detailed in the available coverage.

Ukrainian Perspective: Ukraine has shown resilience, regaining ground, but faces intense Russian military pressure. Zelensky has been resistant to concessions, while Trump’s pressure has added complexity to Kyiv’s negotiating strategy.

Russian Perspective: Russia continues to pursue its military objectives, as evidenced by the massive strike last month. The Kremlin has shown limited interest in resuming talks with Kyiv, indicating a preference for military gains.

This article was compiled from reporting by the South China Morning Post. Claims from single sources have been flagged as not yet independently verified.