Xi Mentions Putin’s Regret Over Invasion During Trump Talks

2026-05-19

Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested in his Nov. 14-15 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin may eventually regret invading Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on the 19th, citing multiple people familiar with the U.S. assessment of the talks.

Background to remarks

According to FT, Xi had never before spoken so clearly about Putin or Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the latest reference was 'more far-reaching than in the past.' Putin is due to visit China on the 19th-20th and meet Xi.

U.S. side declines to comment

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to FT's request for comment, and the White House also declined to comment on the remarks. A summary of the summit released by the Trump administration on the 17th did not mention any exchange over Putin or the Ukraine invasion.

No end to fighting in sight

More than four years after Russia launched its invasion, there is still no sign of an end to the fighting. Ukrainian forces carried out a large-scale drone attack on the outskirts of Moscow, the Russian capital, on the 16th-17th.

West wary of support for Russia

Western countries have accused China of supplying Russia with electronics and other dual-use goods, helping sustain the invasion.

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