To be constructive, China should urge end of Ukraine invasion, says White House

WASHINGTON - If China wants to play a constructive role in Ukraine, its President Xi Jinping should urge Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, Mr John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, said on Tuesday.

Mr Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged from two days of talks on Tuesday with

warm words of friendship between China and Russia

and joint criticism of the West, but no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough over Ukraine.

Mr Kirby also said the United States does not want to see a ceasefire in Ukraine because it would allow Russia to keep its territorial gains and let Mr Putin regroup his forces.

“A ceasefire right now, freezing the lines where they are, basically gives him the time and space he needs to try to re-equip, to re-man, to make up for that resource expenditure,” Mr Kirby said. REUTERS