China was positive about the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15, despite it yielding no immediate deal on a ceasefire in the Ukraine war or a broader peace settlement.

Trump is due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House on Monday, August 18, to press Kyiv to make a deal with Russia, which is demanding that more land be ceded to Moscow.

“China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a press briefing on Monday morning, state media outlet Global Times reported.

“We are glad to see Russia and the United States maintaining contact, improving relations, and promoting the political settlement process of the Ukraine crisis,” Mao said in remarks translated from Chinese.

On the meeting with Zelensky and European leaders, Mao said: “We expect all parties concerned and stakeholders to take part in the peace talks process at an appropriate time, and to reach as soon as possible a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement that can be accepted by all parties.”

China is a major strategic partner of Russia.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.