Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed on preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, and they will maintain a channel of communication to resolve accumulated problems in US-Russian relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. If realized, this meeting could serve as the first step for thawing relations between Moscow and Washington, said Chinese experts, although they noted that key issues such as solving the strategic confrontation between Russia and Europe, and addressing US sanctions on Russia, among others, remain big obstacles.

Lavrov and Rubio agreed during a telephone conversation to hold regular communication on a variety of matters, including preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to Russian News Agency TASS.

Lü Xiang, an expert on US studies and a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that how to deal with the US sanctions against Russia, especially energy sanctions, is an inevitable issue. He said that the US and Russia are competitors in the energy field. After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Europe depended heavily on US exported liquefied natural gas due to sanctions on Russia. Moscow hopes to have the energy sanctions lifted, but this would mean the US would be "undermining its own interests," Lü said.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University believes fundamental differences remain between Russia and US regarding a solution to the Ukraine crisis.

US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, US Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would meet from Russia.

The news came after Trump made separate phone calls to Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday.

Zelensky, who met with US Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and Kiev would not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners, media reported.

The US' main goal is to seek a cease-fire, while Russia seeks to fundamentally solve the issue of the overall strategic confrontation between Russia and Europe, yet such fundamental divergences are difficult to resolve through partial negotiations, Li said, noting that "moreover, for the relationship between Russia and Ukraine to be repaired and build mutual trust, more problems will remain."

Europe, which is already shocked by Trump's call with Putin, might not even have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks, Trump's Ukraine envoy said on Saturday, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kiev, Reuters reported.

But European leaders said they would not accept being shut out of the talks.

"There's no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraine's future or European security structure, without Europeans," Finland's President Alexander Stubb told reporters in Munich.

Based on the situation, Europe stands to incur significant losses in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is not only because the continent has to shoulder the direct repercussions of the three-year-long crisis, but also from Europe's diminishing capacity to influence the trajectory of the situation, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times.

China hopes all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process at an appropriate time, and seek a political settlement through dialogue and consultation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday when answering questions following his keynote speech at the "China in the World" session of the Munich Security Conference, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Regarding China's stance on resolving the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts through dialogue, consultation and political means, which applies equally to the Ukraine issue.

China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace in Ukraine, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday.

In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Fu said China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts peacefully through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the UN Charter, and this applies equally to the Ukraine issue.

He recalled that 10 years ago, the parties concerned with the Ukraine issue reached the Minsk Agreements through negotiations, and that the agreements were subsequently endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 2202, which "represents the right direction of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation."

"Regrettably, after the conclusion of the agreements, most of the provisions were not fully and effectively implemented," the ambassador said, adding that the situation that should have gradually deescalated has instead become even more tense, ultimately leading to the full escalation of the crisis and a large-scale conflict that continues to this day.

"The failure of the Minsk Agreements is deplorable, and its historical lessons warrant deep reflection," Fu said.

He stressed that from the day after the crisis broke out, China has called for a political solution through dialogue and consultation, noting that the four-point proposal -- the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries given due regard, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis supported -- is China's fundamental guidance on the Ukraine issue.

China has been actively engaged in diplomatic mediation and maintains contact with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, has had in-depth participation in the consideration of the Ukraine issue under the framework of the United Nations and its Security Council, and plays a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and political settlement, Fu said.

China has also partnered with Brazil and other countries in creating the Group of Friends for Peace to garner the collective wisdom of the countries of the Global South and form an important force for peace, said the ambassador. "The evolving situation has proven that China's proposal is objective, fair, rational, and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community."

Fu pointed out that at present, the Ukraine issue is about to reach a critical moment for a negotiated settlement, and "the ultimate resolution of any conflict lies at the negotiation table, and history will undoubtedly deliver a just outcome."

He expressed the hope that all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process, and reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties.

"As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace," Fu said.

"We hope the parties will jointly address the root causes of the crisis through negotiation and find a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework for lasting stability in the region," he said.

In response to a foreign media question on China's response to Elon Musk's remarks questioning whether the US should allow platforms like TikTok to operate, claiming it has the potential to collect data on Americans and control the content broadcast to millions of people in the US, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that China has always believed that internet companies should comply with local laws and regulations.

As for the Chinese government, we attach great importance to protecting data privacy and security in accordance with the law, and we have never and will never require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located abroad against local laws, Mao said. 

Also when asked by another foreign media reporter about the remarks made by Elon Musk on Sunday on X claiming that "the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but X is not allowed to operate in China is 'unbalanced,' and something needs to change," Mao said on Monday that the Chinese government manages the internet in accordance with the law, and we welcome internet enterprises from all countries to develop in China as long as they comply with Chinese laws and regulations and provide safe and reliable products and services.

Chinese President Xi Jinping talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video meeting on Tuesday, saying China and Russia should jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the outcomes of World War Two (WWII) victory.

Xi noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN).

China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UN-centered international system and the victory of WWII, promote all countries' adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi stressed.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday braved the cold to visit people affected by floods in a village in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Xi made the trip to the village of Zhujiagou, under the administration of Suizhong County, Huludao City, ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important festival for the Chinese people, which falls on Jan. 29 this year.

Huludao was one of the hardest-hit cities by summer floods in 2024.

Xi inspected the progress in post-disaster restoration and reconstruction.

Visiting the villagers who had moved into their new houses just before this winter, Xi inquired about the quality of the reconstructed homes and whether their daily living conditions were adequate.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Dutch leaders on Wednesday and Thursday in The Hague. The two sides agreed to jointly promote an open world economy, and strengthen cooperation in various fields including green development.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met separately with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans during his two-day visit.

Ding said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between China and the Netherlands has been steadily enhanced with fruitful cooperation in various fields, bringing benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

China is willing to further strengthen communication with the Netherlands to enhance mutual trust, push for greater development of bilateral relations and help the two countries accelerate the realization of their respective development goals, he said.

Stressing that both China and the Netherlands are beneficiaries and supporters of an open world economy, Ding said China is committed to high-quality development through high-standard opening-up, welcoming Dutch companies to expand cooperation with China.

It is also hoped that the Dutch side will continue to provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, safeguard common interests and maintain a stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and realize the two sides' complementary advantages, shared opportunities and common development, Ding said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU). The vice premier said China is willing to strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation with the EU to promote the sound and stable development of the China-EU relations, and hopes the Netherlands will play a constructive role in this regard.

King Willem-Alexander said that the Dutch side cherishes mutual trust and friendship and is willing to deepen cooperation with China to jointly push for continuous progress in the Netherlands-China relations.

In the face of the current geopolitical conflicts, countries should communicate frankly, seek consensus, work together and jointly address global challenges, the King added.

Schoof said the Dutch side admires China's development achievements and regards China as a stable partner, adding that the Netherlands is willing to strengthen dialogue with China, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and expand practical cooperation in various fields such as water conservancy, green development, and medical and health care.

Schoof also noted that the Netherlands is ready to work with China to safeguard free trade and promote openness and cooperation.

Hermans congratulated China on its achievements in environmental protection and green development, and appreciated China's contributions to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The Dutch side is looking forward to promoting cooperation with China in areas such as clean energy, green transition, circular economy, and climate adaptation, Hermans said.