Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told U.S. President Donald Trump that Russian leader Vladimir Putin might come to regret his decision to invade Ukraine, according to a Financial Times report citing sources familiar with the U.S. assessment of last week's summit in Beijing. The revelation came just hours before Putin departed for a two-day official visit to China, underscoring the delicate diplomatic balancing act Xi is performing between the world's two largest nuclear powers.

The conversation, which took place during wide-ranging talks between the American and Chinese delegations, also touched on the International Criminal Court. Trump suggested that the three leaders—Xi, Putin, and himself—should cooperate against the ICC. Xi's blunt assessment of Putin's strategic blunder marks a notable departure from Beijing's usual cautious public stance on the war, as China has consistently refrained from condemning Russia's invasion and instead called for a political solution.

Putin's Arrival in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a summit that the Kremlin described as a chance to deepen the 'privileged strategic partnership' between the two nations. In a pre-trip video address, Putin emphasized that Russia and China are ready to support each other on issues of national unity and sovereignty protection. He noted that bilateral relations had reached an 'unprecedented level' of mutual trust and understanding.

The timing of Putin's visit is significant, coming just days after Trump concluded his own state visit to China. The back-to-back summits highlight Xi's efforts to maintain cordial ties with both Washington and Moscow, even as the war in Ukraine continues to strain global alliances. The Russian delegation includes deputy prime ministers, government ministers, and heads of major energy companies, signaling that economic cooperation—particularly in energy—will be a key topic.

Ongoing Conflict and Human Cost

While diplomacy unfolds in Beijing, the war on the ground shows no signs of abating. Over the past 24 hours, Russia launched a massive overnight barrage of 524 drones and 22 missiles across eight regions of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The central city of Dnipro bore the brunt of the attack, with dozens of civilians wounded, including three children. Air defense systems managed to neutralize 503 drones and four missiles, but the scale of the assault reflects a recent escalation in long-range strikes.

Earlier last week, a Russian cruise missile flattened a Kyiv apartment building, killing 24 people, including three children. The tragedy prompted Trump to suggest that such strikes could set back peace efforts, a remark that the Kremlin later dismissed by pointing to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian soil. Moscow faced its biggest drone attack in over a year over the weekend, with at least three people killed in the wider region around the capital.

In Izmail, a key Danube port city, Russian air attacks damaged port infrastructure early Tuesday. Local officials reported that while most aerial weapons were destroyed, some facilities were hit. No casualties were reported. The city has been a frequent target due to its strategic importance for Ukrainian grain exports.

The human toll continues to mount. Maryna Homeniuk and Yurii Orlov, a young couple from Kyiv, were among the 24 killed in the apartment building strike. Homeniuk, a 24-year-old English teacher, had returned from studying in the Czech Republic and dreamed of starting a family. Friends and family paid their final respects over the weekend, but Orlov's body had not yet been released for burial.

Nuclear Drills in Belarus Raise Stakes

Belarus launched joint military drills with Russia on Monday to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons that Moscow has deployed on the territory of its ally. Belarusian defense officials stated that the exercises involve missile units and warplanes, focusing on covert movement and delivery of nuclear warheads. They insisted the maneuvers had been planned in advance and were not aimed at any third country, but Ukraine condemned the move as an 'unprecedented challenge to global security.'

Kyiv urged Western allies to tighten sanctions against both Moscow and Minsk, warning that the deployment legitimizes nuclear proliferation and sets a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russia to station tactical nuclear weapons in his country, and in December, Russia announced that its latest intermediate-range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system had entered service in Belarus, which borders NATO members Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Peace Process Remains Stalled

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Moscow expects the Russia-Ukraine peace process to resume eventually but that it is currently paused. He was responding to Trump's comments that the deadly strikes on Kyiv could delay peace efforts. Peskov deflected blame, calling attention to Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets in Russia. No significant diplomatic breakthroughs are expected in the near term, despite U.S. efforts to mediate an end to the four-year conflict.

In a separate development, a Chinese-owned cargo ship heading to a Ukrainian port was struck by a Russian drone in the Black Sea, according to Reuters. The vessel, sailing under a Guinea-Bissau flag, suffered a small fire that was quickly extinguished. Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said it was unclear why Russian forces attacked the Chinese vessel, questioning whether it was a 'monstrous mistake.'

Broader Geopolitical Implications

Putin's visit to China is also expected to address the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would deliver an additional 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from Russia's Arctic fields to China via Mongolia. The energy deal would further cement Beijing's role as Moscow's primary economic lifeline amid Western sanctions. Xi's reported warning to Trump about Putin's regrets suggests that even China sees the invasion as a strategic misstep, though Beijing continues to benefit from discounted Russian energy and expanded trade.

Meanwhile, NATO concluded its largest special forces exercise in Europe, Trojan Footprint 2026, involving approximately 3,000 personnel from 23 allied nations. The drills, which spanned several Eastern European countries including Romania and Greece, underscored the alliance's readiness to defend its eastern flank. Separately, the Pentagon cancelled plans to deploy 4,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland, a move that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said should not undermine transatlantic unity.

As G7 finance ministers met in Paris to discuss conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko called for increased sanctions against Russia. He also expressed hope for the first disbursement of a 90-billion-euro EU loan to Ukraine by early June. Russian nuclear chief Alexei Likhachev warned that the situation at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is reaching a 'point of no return,' blaming Ukrainian attacks for the danger—though the plant has been under Russian control since 2022.

In a sign of the conflict's far-reaching effects, a former British soldier, Hayden Davies, who was captured while fighting for Ukraine, has been sentenced by a Russian court to 15 years in prison. Davies, who served in the British Army for 12 years, said he feels abandoned by the UK government. The Foreign Office stated it is providing consular support and strongly condemned the sentencing. The case highlights the risks foreign fighters face and the complex legal battles that continue.

Source: MSN News