Wang is set to meet with Lavrov on Tuesday, following an agreement in principle between Ukraine and Russia for a limited ceasefire, which came after Trump’s discussions with the leaders of both nations. It is still uncertain when this ceasefire will be implemented, its duration, and which targets will be excluded from the agreement.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Moscow on Monday to engage in discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as Russia and Ukraine consider US President Donald Trump’s proposal to resolve the ongoing three-year conflict.
Wang is scheduled to meet Lavrov on Tuesday, shortly after Kyiv and Moscow reached a preliminary agreement on a limited ceasefire following Trump’s negotiations with both parties. However, specifics regarding the ceasefire, such as its timeline, duration, and extent, remain unspecified.
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, reaffirmed Beijing’s neutral position on the conflict, asserting, “We firmly believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only feasible solutions to the crisis. China’s collaboration with Russia is not aimed at any third party and should not be influenced by external factors.”
In its official announcement regarding Wang’s visit, China did not reference Ukraine, instead highlighting its commitment to “enhance strategic coordination” with Russia and broaden cooperation across various fields. A statement from the Foreign Ministry indicated that Beijing is ready to collaborate with Moscow on “international and regional matters of mutual interest.”
Throughout the more than three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China has offered significant diplomatic backing to Russia, along with an economic lifeline through energy and consumer goods trade. Nevertheless, it has not knowingly supplied Russia with weapons or military expertise and has proposed a vague peace plan that has been largely disregarded by most analysts.
On Sunday, Trump expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he would impose secondary tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on purchasers of Russian oil if he believes Moscow is obstructing his efforts to conclude the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump conveyed his anger following Putin’s recent comments questioning the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s leadership, as reported by the television network based on a phone interview conducted early on Sunday.
Since assuming office in January, Trump has taken a more accommodating approach towards Russia, which has raised concerns among Western allies as he seeks to negotiate an end to Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has persisted for three years.
His pointed remarks about Putin on Sunday indicate his increasing frustration with the stagnation in ceasefire discussions.
“If Russia and I cannot reach an agreement to halt the violence in Ukraine, and if I believe Russia is to blame… I will impose secondary tariffs on oil, specifically on all oil exported from Russia,” Trump stated.
“This means that if you purchase oil from Russia, you will be barred from conducting business in the United States,” he continued. “There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, with tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on all oil.”
Trump later expressed to reporters his disappointment with Putin but noted, “I believe we are making progress, step by step.”
He mentioned that he could implement the new trade measures within a month.
Moscow has not responded immediately. Russia has labeled various Western sanctions and restrictions as “illegal,” asserting that they are intended to provide the West with an economic advantage in its rivalry with Russia.
During the weekend at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump informed NBC News of his intention to speak with Putin this week. The two leaders have had two publicly acknowledged phone calls in recent months, although the Kremlin suggested there may have been additional communications, as indicated in video footage last week.
The White House has not provided immediate information regarding the timing of the call or whether Trump would also engage with Zelenskiy.
Trump has placed significant emphasis on ending what he describes as a “ridiculous” war, which commenced with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, yet he has achieved minimal progress.
On Friday, Putin proposed that Ukraine could be subjected to a temporary administration to facilitate new elections that might lead to Zelenskiy’s removal.
Trump, who has previously advocated for new elections in Ukraine and criticized Zelenskiy as a dictator, stated that Putin is aware of his displeasure. However, Trump also mentioned that he maintains “a very good relationship with him” and that “the anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing.”
According to U.S. government data, the United States has not imported any Russian crude oil since April 2022. Prior to that, U.S. refiners purchased varying amounts of Russian oil, peaking at 98.1 million barrels in 2010 and dropping to a low of 6.6 million barrels in 2014, based on a review of EIA data from 2000 onward.
In 2024, India has overtaken China to become the largest importer of seaborne Russian crude, which accounted for approximately 35% of India’s total crude imports.
On Sunday, Trump also indicated that he could impose secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil if Tehran fails to reach an agreement to halt its nuclear weapons program.
