China’s Xi affirms ‘no limits’ partnership with Putin in call on Ukraine war anniversary

China’s President Xi Jinping affirmed his “no limits” partnership in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, China’s state media reported, on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The leaders held the talks as U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a quick deal to end the Ukraine war, raising the prospect that Washington could draw a wedge between Xi and Putin to focus on competing with the world’s second largest economy. The call appeared aimed at dispelling any such prospects, the two leaders underscored the durability and the “long-term” nature of their alliance, with its own internal dynamics that would not be impacted by any “third party”.