Washington is simultaneously trying to resume negotiations on the war in Ukraine and reset relations with China. Against this background, Ukraine is increasingly becoming not only a recipient of aid, but also one of the key suppliers of modern military technology for the West. At the same time, the Kremlin risks losing some of its international influence due to the rapprochement of the US and China and the gradual shift of global attention from the Russian-Ukrainian war. Despite Trump's optimistic statements about the imminent end of the war, the parties have not yet demonstrated any real agreements.
The US wants to return to negotiations on Ukraine, but recognizes the loss of momentum, - Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, that Washington is counting on the resumption of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and is ready to continue to act as a mediator. According to him, the United States currently remains the only country capable of ensuring a diplomatic end to the war. Rubio acknowledged that in recent months the negotiation process has lost momentum due to changes on the front and rising oil prices, which have affected the positions of the parties. He also noted that the Ukrainian side has become more confident in its military capabilities after the winter, while Moscow is showing more optimism due to the situation on the energy markets.
Rubio stressed that US President Donald Trump is seeking an early end to the war and considers it “crazy”. According to the Secretary of State, the war has already caused huge losses to both sides, and the reconstruction of Ukraine will last for decades. He also emphasized that the Ukrainian army is today the strongest in Europe, and the war itself has become a catalyst for the development of new military technologies and tactics. Separately, Rubio drew attention to the scale of the losses of the Russian army, stating that the Russian Federation loses from 15 to 20 thousand soldiers killed every month, and the total losses exceed the Ukrainian ones several times.
Trump and Xi Jinping Discuss Ukraine, Middle East, and Trade in Beijing
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to discuss a wide range of international and economic issues. The Chinese side said they agreed to develop a "constructive strategic and stable relationship" between the two countries, despite their differences. Xi Jinping stressed that cooperation should be based on stability, controlled competition, and conflict avoidance. During the talks, the parties touched on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, Taiwan, energy, and trade.
The White House reported that Trump called the talks "extremely positive and productive" and thanked the Chinese side for the reception. The American and Chinese delegations also discussed expanding access for American businesses to the Chinese market and increasing Chinese investment in the United States. Particular attention was paid to the issues of supplying American agricultural products, the fight against fentanyl and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the Chinese side warned Washington about Taiwan, stating that the wrong approach to this issue could lead to “clash and even conflict”.
Ukrainian military technologies are the envy of the US and Europe
Reuters reported, that Ukraine is rapidly becoming one of the key global centers of military technology, and its experience is increasingly being studied by the US and European countries. After massive Russian attacks in the winter, Ukrainian engineers and military were able to create new drone systems, control and analysis of combat data, which are already of interest to the Pentagon and leading defense companies in the world. American officials openly admit that some Ukrainian developments are ahead of Western counterparts in both speed of implementation and practicality. One of the key examples is the “Delta” system, which integrates drones, sensors and combat platforms into a single network.
According to Reuters, the United States and Ukraine are already preparing a memorandum that will allow testing and potentially producing Ukrainian drones on American territory. At the same time, Ukrainian technologies are actively interested in Middle Eastern countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, which seek to strengthen protection against Iranian drones and ballistic missiles. Against this background, Germany, which has now become Ukraine's main military partner instead of the United States, announced new supplies of artillery ammunition, PAC-3 missiles and cooperation in the field of long-range drones. Reuters also notes that Ukraine is now not only receiving aid, but also becoming a source of military solutions that the West seeks to adapt for its own security.
Trump-Xi Jinping summit weakens Putin's position, analysts say
Against the backdrop of the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, Western analysts are reporting a weakening of Vladimir Putin’s international position. The article states that the stabilization of US-China relations could significantly reduce the influence of Moscow, which has traditionally tried to exploit the contradictions between Washington and Beijing in its own interests. The authors emphasize that the war against Ukraine is no longer a top priority for the United States, as the White House’s attention is increasingly shifting to the Middle East and China. In addition, Putin’s recent contacts with Trump have not yielded the expected results for the Kremlin, and Moscow’s proposals regarding Iran have been virtually ignored.
Analysts also note the cooling in relations between Putin and Xi Jinping. The last personal meeting of the leaders took place in 2025, and the Kremlin is increasingly trying to demonstrate the importance of ties with China. At the same time, Beijing, despite its partnership with Moscow, is more interested in stable economic relations with the United States than in supporting Russia’s confrontation with the West. The article also notes that Russia is interested in continuing the war in the Middle East, as this keeps oil prices high and diverts US resources from Ukraine.
Trump said that Russia’s war against Ukraine is “very close” to ending
US President Donald Trump said, that Russia’s war against Ukraine is supposedly very close to ending. He made this statement before leaving for China, answering journalists’ questions about possible talks with Xi Jinping on Ukraine. Trump expressed hope that the war would end soon, but did not specify what his assessment of the situation was based on. At the same time, he denied that there were any agreements with Putin to transfer the entire Donbas to Russia.
The American president also did not rule out a possible visit to Moscow this year. He said he would “do whatever it takes” to end the war. Trump’s remarks came amid talks with Chinese leaders and increased U.S. diplomatic engagement with Ukraine. The White House has not yet released details of potential new initiatives to resolve the war.
Photo: Oleg Petrasiuk
Author: Danylo Pievchev