Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Donald Trump during recent talks in Beijing that Russian President Vladimir Putin may eventually view the war in Ukraine as a major strategic error.

The discussion, first revealed by the Financial Times, took place during extensive meetings between Trump and Xi last week that focused on the war in Ukraine, tensions involving the International Criminal Court, and the broader geopolitical rivalry involving the United States, Russia, and China.

According to the report, Xi conveyed to Trump that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine could ultimately become a costly miscalculation for the Kremlin.

The reported remarks drew attention because Xi has largely refrained from publicly criticizing Putin or signaling distance from Moscow throughout the war.

Putin is expected to travel to China later this week for meetings with Xi, highlighting the ongoing importance of the “no-limits” alliance announced by Beijing and Moscow shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

Neither the White House nor Chinese officials publicly addressed the report. The White House declined comment, while the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to inquiries.

The Financial Times further reported that Trump proposed closer coordination between the United States, China, and Russia in opposition to the International Criminal Court, an institution that conservatives and many Trump allies have accused of overstepping its authority and undermining national sovereignty.

Officials in the Trump administration have repeatedly criticized the ICC for what they describe as politically motivated actions and judicial activism, particularly in cases involving American allies and U.S. personnel.

Xi’s comments reportedly came as Ukraine escalated its campaign of long-range drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, exposing weaknesses in Russia’s defensive systems and adding new economic strain on Moscow.

In recent months, Ukraine has increasingly relied on sophisticated drone operations and precision strikes aimed at Russian oil facilities, fuel storage sites, and military-industrial infrastructure.

Military analysts cited by The Economist said the conflict may be approaching an “inflection point,” noting that Russia has recently suffered net territorial setbacks after months of gradual advances.

Politico reported that Ukraine launched more than 1,300 drones over the weekend in one of the war’s largest coordinated strike campaigns, targeting sites near Moscow and causing major disruptions to civilian air travel across Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes showed that Russia is no longer capable of fully protecting its capital from retaliation.

The expanding reach of Ukraine’s drone warfare program has also heightened fears within Russia about economic instability and rising military losses.

Russia’s economy shrank during the first quarter of 2026, while revenues from energy exports — a crucial source of financing for the war effort — have reportedly dropped significantly.

Some defense analysts now believe Putin could face growing internal pressure as the war continues without a decisive victory.

Although the Kremlin has attempted to minimize the impact of the Ukrainian attacks, even several pro-Russian commentators have acknowledged that Moscow’s air defense systems are facing increasing pressure.

{Matzav.com}