- XI, Putin condemns Israel’s attack on Iran, says Kremlin.
- The two leaders say they support political and diplomatic solutions.
- The Chinese president calls on Israel to stop fire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both condemned Israel on Thursday during his strikes on Iran and agreed that de -escalation was necessary, the Kremlin said after the two leaders spoke by phone.
Putin and Xi “firmly condemn the actions of Israel, which violate the Charter of the United Nations and other standards of international law,” said journalists to the Kremlin Yuri Ushakov.
“Moscow and Beijing fundamentally believe that there is no military solution to the current situation and the problems linked to the Iranian nuclear program.
“This solution must be obtained exclusively by political and diplomatic means,” said Ushakov.
Without naming the United States, XI said during the call that “large countries” with “a particular influence” in the region should intensify diplomatic efforts to cool the situation, according to a reading of the official Xinhua news agency.
“The belligerent parties, in particular Israel, should cease shots as soon as possible to prevent an climbing cycle and resolutely avoid overflowing the war,” said Xi.
He also urged efforts to protect civilians, calling on Israel and Iran to facilitate the evacuation of citizens from other countries.
Russia has warned of disaster if the Israeli-Iranian conflict, now in its seventh day, increased more and urged the United States not to join the bombing of Israel.
Putin has been in contact with US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in recent days and have repeatedly said that Russia was ready to mediate between sides at war.
So far, no one has adopted Russia’s offer.
Putin reiterated this proposal on Thursday during her telephone call with XI, an nearby ally.
The Chinese chief expressed his support for the idea, said Ushakov, “as he thinks he could serve to defuse the current acute situation”. Chinese reading has made no mention of such support from XI.
The two men have agreed to stay in close contact in the coming days.
Beijing has long supported Tehran as part of efforts to deepen its strategic and economic weight in the Middle East.
Extending a financial rescue to Iran in the midst of American sanctions on Tehran, China buys up to 90% of Iranian crude oil exports, according to analysts, in transhipment transactions off the coast of Malaysia.
