China and Russia “cannot be moved away” from one another, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday, in their first phone call since US President Donald Trump upended American foreign policy with a sweeping pivot toward Moscow as he pushes for peace in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has held a call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and said he was pleased with Moscow’s efforts to hold a summit with the U.S. toward ending the war in Ukraine.

China's President Xi Jinping affirmed his "no limits" partnership in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, China's state media reported, on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing said Tuesday its defence spending was "entirely necessary" after Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a suggestion that the US, Russia and China all half their defence budgets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday afternoon at the Russian leader's request, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The call, made on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine,

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his relationship with Vladimir Putin on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, signaling that Moscow’s detente with Washington wouldn’t deter ties.