Asian peacekeeper: China aims to host a summit between Trump and Putin, but there's a catch, according to the Wall Street Journal.

China, which had maintained neutrality regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine for nearly three years, has unexpectedly decided to become a mediator in peace negotiations. Chinese diplomats, through intermediaries, proposed to President Donald Trump's team to organize a summit between the American and Russian leaders, as well as to send Chinese peacekeepers to Ukraine following a potential ceasefire.

According to sources in Beijing and Washington, China's proposal includes holding a U.S.-Russia summit without the participation of President Vladimir Zelensky. The White House has already rejected this initiative, labeling it as "unviable." This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, Trump announced a "long and productive" phone conversation with Putin. He stated that the leaders agreed on mutual visits and to commence immediate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Trump also hinted at a possible meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia.

European partners have expressed concerns about a potential "great power agreement" that would overlook the interests of Kyiv. European officials insist that any peace talks must involve Ukrainian and European leaders.

The Chinese proposal does not entail any obligations for Beijing to reduce economic support for Moscow. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, China has become a crucial economic partner for Russia amid Western sanctions. Just last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a phone call with Putin, during which both pledged to deepen bilateral relations.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had previously accused China of undermining a peace summit led by Ukraine in Switzerland. The Ukrainian side emphasizes that the best path to peace is through increased military support for Kyiv and sanctions pressure on Russia.

Experts believe that Beijing's initiative is linked to Xi Jinping's desire to prevent possible economic sanctions from the Trump administration. The U.S. has already imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods due to China's role in the fentanyl crisis. Trump threatens to raise tariffs to 60%.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit Putin. The Kremlin is preparing for a large-scale celebration.