U. S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to involve China in exerting pressure on Russia regarding the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. He made the statement to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Malaysia, where his Asian tour was set to begin.

The American leader noted that Washington had imposed serious sanctions on Russia, which, in his view, would have a «painful and tangible effect.» He added that he expected Beijing’s assistance in dealing with Moscow.

As part of the tour, the U.S. president is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will take place in South Korea. A meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be held there on October 30.

Trump said he had established good relations with Xi Jinping and expressed confidence that their upcoming talks would be constructive. He stated that Russia and Ukraine would be among the main topics of discussion during the meeting.

The U.S. president had previously emphasized that he intended to discuss with Xi Jinping the possibility of China influencing Russia in the context of resolving the Ukrainian conflict — including through the oil and energy sectors. In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that coercion and pressure could not resolve the issue, reiterating that Beijing continues to advocate for a peaceful settlement and a ceasefire.

Recently, Donald Trump canceled his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was expected to take place in Budapest. On the same day, Trump announced sanctions against major Russian oil companies «Rosneft» and «Lukoil», along with their subsidiaries.

Commenting on these measures, Vladimir Putin said that the sanctions would have a serious nature and certain consequences, but would not significantly affect Russia’s economic stability. Moscow has repeatedly stated its readiness for a peaceful resolution, while noting that Kiev has shown no similar willingness