Donald Trump and Beijing have dismissed a Financial Times report claiming Xi Jinping told the former US president that Vladimir Putin may eventually regret his invasion of Ukraine.
The Financial Times Report
The Financial Times reported that during a recent visit to China, Donald Trump discussed Ukraine with Xi Jinping. The newspaper alleged that Xi told Trump that Vladimir Putin might eventually regret the invasion of Ukraine.
The report surfaced just before Putin’s two-day visit to Beijing, which followed Trump’s own official visit to the Chinese capital by less than a week.
Official Denials from Involved Parties
Journalists questioned the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which dismissed the Financial Times findings as completely false. Donald Trump likewise refuted the claim, stating clearly that Xi never said it. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also commented, emphasizing that the Chinese side had already denied the report.
Proposed Opposition to the International Criminal Court
The Financial Times also alleged that Trump suggested to Xi that the US, China, and Russia join forces against the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing their interests were aligned. The White House declined to comment on the matter.
The Trump administration has historically criticized the ICC, accusing it of being politicized, abusing its power, disregarding US national sovereignty, and exceeding its legal authority.
ICC Warrants for Putin and Netanyahu
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, for his alleged role in the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
On November 21, 2024, the court issued a warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing alleged war crimes including the use of starvation as a weapon and deliberate attacks on civilians. The court also accuses Netanyahu of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts dating back to at least October 8, 2023.
Trump’s Defense of Netanyahu
Trump condemned the actions against Netanyahu, stating on February 6, 2025, that the ICC, established under the Rome Statute, had engaged in unlawful actions against America and Israel. He maintained that the court lacks jurisdiction over the US and Israel because neither is a party to the Rome Statute.
Trump called on allies to oppose the court’s actions and demanded that the ICC respect the decisions of countries that do not recognize its jurisdiction.
