For the past three years, China has repeatedly presented itself as a potential peacemaker in the Ukraine war, engaging in diplomatic efforts such as shuttle diplomacy, forming alliances like “friends for peace” with developing nations, and even proposing peacekeeping deployments in Europe. However, when Russian and U.S. officials convened in Saudi Arabia this week, President Xi Jinping was notably absent, instead focusing on economic matters and negotiations with Donald Trump to avert another trade war.

China’s primary concern remains its economy, and it aims to maintain its image as a global mediator without jeopardizing its close ties with Moscow, which supplies Beijing with crucial energy resources. China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, reinforced this stance at the Munich Security Conference, emphasizing that no other country could supply China with the necessary gas if it ceased purchasing from Russia. This underscores Beijing’s reluctance to leverage its economic influence over Moscow.

By staying out of direct involvement in the Ukraine peace talks, China has prioritized trade relations and economic policies, with Xi instructing officials to analyze Trump’s trade strategy and prepare responses to his tariffs. Beijing has also softened the rhetoric of its foreign ministry to keep diplomatic channels open with Washington.

Meanwhile, Trump’s unexpected move to engage directly with Vladimir Putin—excluding Ukraine and Europe from negotiations—has drawn global attention. He has made preemptive concessions, criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and placed blame for the conflict on Kyiv. Wang Yi, in response, called for all stakeholders, including Europe, to be part of the discussions. However, European officials remain skeptical, pointing out China’s financial support of Russia through energy purchases and alleged backing of its military sector, claims Beijing denies.

Despite concerns that Trump’s outreach to Putin could strain China-Russia ties, diplomats argue that the deep coordination between the two nations makes such a shift unlikely. While Beijing has largely ignored Ukrainian diplomats in recent years, it has recently increased engagement with European officials. China even dispatched veteran diplomat Hua Chunying to Brussels, signaling a renewed focus on EU relations amid tensions over trade, market access, and manufacturing policies.

However, despite this diplomatic outreach, China has not made significant concessions, likely viewing Europe as too weak to warrant major policy shifts. Analysts suggest Beijing is preparing for further trade pressures from Trump while maintaining its strategic alignment with Moscow, ensuring it remains a key player in postwar developments without taking on unnecessary risks.