Russian and Chinese foreign ministers discuss Ukraine war and US ties

MOSCOW - Russia and China’s foreign ministers on July 13 discussed their relations with the United States and the prospects for ending the war in Ukraine, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

President Vladimir Putin's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Beijing on July 13. Mr Lavrov is due to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) foreign ministers in China.

“The parties also discussed relations with the United States and prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” the foreign ministry said.

“The importance of strengthening close coordination between the two countries in the international arena, including in the United Nations and its Security Council, the SCO, Brics, the G-20 and Apec, was emphasised,” the ministry said.

China and Russia

declared a "no limits" partnership

in February 2022 when Mr Putin visited Beijing, days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. Mr Putin has sometimes described China as an "ally".

The US casts China as its biggest competitor and Russia as its biggest nation-state threat. REUTERS