Trump calls for China's support for peace in Ukraine

Trump calls for China's support for peace in Ukraine

As the Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year, former US President Donald Trump has made it clear which world leader he sees as a potential mediator: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin's ally. Trump expressed hope during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that China can help end the war, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine: "China has great power over this situation, and we will work with them."

The search for peace

Trump has that hope in one Phone call with the Chinese leader a few days before his inauguration, and it is a topic that could come up again at the upcoming security conference in Munich. Although Trump is continuing his plan to orchestrate peace with Xi by introducing a uniform 10% tariff on Chinese imports complicated, the war in Ukraine could provide a rare opportunity for cooperation, especially as Beijing seeks to avoid escalating trade tensions.

China's role as peace broker

China has long positioned itself as a potential peace broker in this conflict vaguely worded suggestion presented to settle the war. But in the West, this initiative has so far been overshadowed by another reality: the ongoing one Beijing's support for Russia. Xi faces the challenge of not jeopardizing this partnership, as it is an essential part of his broader goals of countering Western pressure and shaping a world order that favors China.

A critical time

The future of the conflict will play a central role in the upcoming Munich Security Conference, which will also be attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The conference will be accompanied by a dramatic change in tone in US politics. Trump, who has questioned American support for Ukraine, suggested that the U.S. should be given access to Ukraine's natural resources in return for military aid. He has also stated that Ukraine "may one day be part of Russia" and highlighted the Trump administration's progress in preparing for possible peace talks.

The challenges of a peace plan

Although Trump is pushing for a quick end to the war, his administration has not yet laid out specific conditions for a possible peace. How much Trump would engage with Xi - and whether the Chinese leader would be open to it - could depend on the terms of those talks, experts said. While China has presented itself as neutral in this conflict, it continues to serve as an important diplomatic and economic lifeline for Russia.

China's strategic influence

Trump could see Xi's posts about Putin as an opportunity to exert influence. But experts emphasize that it's not that simple. "Can China threaten Russia by cutting off important shipments? It can't because China can't afford a weak Russia," says Liu Dongshu. He goes on to say that Beijing has already managed relations with the US and Europe so badly that it has no choice but to support Russia - its only powerful diplomatic ally.

Perspectives for the future

The path that Xi and Trump could take to pressure Putin to negotiate would also represent a drastic shift in China's approach to this conflict. This partnership could open up opportunities to move beyond the Ukraine conflict to a changed global security architecture. But Chinese officials will primarily wait to see what benefits would come from a larger deal with Trump before engaging substantively in the negotiations.

In summary, the question remains whether there can be a deal that satisfies both Beijing, Moscow and Washington – and what that might mean for Ukraine and the future of the conflict. “It could be that all parties involved benefit from certain peace agreements, with Trump and Xi presenting themselves as peacemakers,” explains Robert Ward.

This article was supported by CNN journalists Mariya Knight, Maria Kostenko, Frederik Pleitgen, Katharina Krebs and Caitlin Danaher.