BEIJING: President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Friday that China was pleased to see Moscow and Washington improving their relations, state media said. Putin and US President Donald Trump are set to hold talks in a bid to end the war in Ukraine. Both sides have confirmed preparations for a summit are underway and have suggested that a meeting could take place next week, although no firm date or venue has been set. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi had talked to Putin on Friday at the Russian leader’s request.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin to end war, after Trump's special envoy held talks with Putin

The news comes ahead of an expected summit between Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.