Zelensky Believes Trump Could Influence Xi on Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he believes U.S. President Donald Trump could help change Chinese President Xi Jinping’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox News’ Special Report after meeting Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Zelensky said, “I think President Trump could influence Xi Jinping’s attitude toward this war because we don’t believe China wants to end it.”

The U.S. has criticized China and India for continuing to purchase oil from Moscow, portraying them as contributors to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Sources told Reuters last week that Trump urged European Union officials to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese oil imports to discourage purchases from Russia, and he called for similar tariffs on India.

If the U.S. request is heeded, it would mark a shift in the EU’s strategy, which has preferred isolating Russia through sanctions rather than tariffs. Despite frustration over China’s and India’s energy purchases, Zelensky said he believes India is “mostly” aligned with Ukraine.

Acknowledging concerns over Russian energy supplies, he added that he expects Trump and European partners to work toward a strong, close relationship with India. “We need to do everything possible to ensure India does not backtrack, and that they reconsider their stance on Russian energy,” Zelensky said. “With China, it’s more difficult because, for now, not supporting Russia isn’t in their interest.”

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy denied that Beijing is taking sides in the ongoing conflict, stating that China has “not exploited the situation for profit.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Pengyu said, “From the first day of the crisis, China has maintained an objective and fair position, promoting peace and dialogue. We call on all parties to adhere to three principles—avoid expanding the battlefield, avoid escalating fighting, and avoid fueling tensions—so as to reduce the situation and create conditions for a political solution.”

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More than three years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump has expressed frustration over the inability to bring Russia and Ukraine to a peace agreement. He highlighted his concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying during the UN meetings that he believes Ukraine could reclaim all its territory from Moscow with European support.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Russia has been waging a pointless war for over three and a half years, one that a real military power could have resolved in less than a week. This is not isolating Russia.” He added that Putin and Russia are facing “major economic difficulties.”

Zelensky called these remarks “surprising” and said they signaled continued U.S. support for Ukraine until the conflict’s conclusion.