Zelenskyy believes Trump could influence Xi’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (23 September) he believes that U.S. President Donald Trump could help change Chinese President Xi Jinping's stance on Russia's war in Ukraine.

"I think that President Trump can change the attitude of Xi Jinping to this war, because China, we don't feel that China wants to finish this war," Zelenskyy told Fox News' 'Special Report' after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The U.S. has highlighted China and India as contributors to the Russia-Ukraine war due to their ongoing purchases of oil from Moscow.

Sources told Reuters last week that Trump urged European Union officials to impose 100% tariffs on China as a deterrent to purchasing Russian oil. He called for similarly expansive tariffs on India. 

The U.S. request, if heeded, would result in a change of strategy for the European Union, which has preferred to isolate Russia with sanctions rather than tariffs.

Acknowledging concern about Russian energy supplies, he said he believes Trump and European allies would work to ensure a closer, stronger relationship with India - which has a close relationship with Moscow.

"I think we have to do everything not to withdraw Indians and they will change their attitude to Russian energy sector," Zelenskyy said. "With China, it's more difficult because...for today, it's not in their interests not to support Russia."

A Chinese embassy spokesperson denied on Tuesday that Beijing was a party to the ongoing conflict, stating that China had not "exploited the situation for gain." 

"Since the first day of the crisis, China has maintained an objective and just stance, and has been promoting peace and talks," spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement. 

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

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