- XI, Putin condemns Israel’s attack against Iran, says Kremlin.
- Both leaders say they support political and diplomatic solutions.
- The Chinese president asks Israel to cease fire.
Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Chinese president, Xi Jinping, condemned Israel on Thursday for their attacks on Iran and agreed that it was needed to de -escalation, said the Kremlin after the two leaders spoke on the phone.
Putin and XI “strongly condemn Israel’s actions, which violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law,” Kremlin Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
“Both Moscow and Beijing fundamentally believe that there is no military solution for the current situation and the problems related to Iran’s nuclear program.
“This solution must be achieved exclusively through political and diplomatic means,” said Ushakov.
Without appointing the United States, XI said during the call that the “main countries” with “special influence” in the region should intensify diplomatic efforts to cool the situation, according to a reading of the official Xinhua news agency of China.
“The parts at war, especially Israel, should leave the fire as soon as possible to avoid a climbing cycle and avoid resolved the spill of war,” Xi said.
He also urged efforts to protect civilians, asking Israel and Iran to facilitate the evacuation of citizens from other countries.
Russia warned about the catastrophe if Israel-Iran’s conflict, now on its seventh day, intensified more, and has urged the United States not to join Israel’s bombing.
Putin has been in contact with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud fishshkian in recent days and has repeatedly said that Russia is ready to mediate between the parties at war.
Until now, no one has assumed Russia’s offer.
On Thursday, Putin reiterated that proposal in his phone call with XI, a nearby ally.
The Chinese leader expressed his support for the idea, said Ushakov, “as he thinks it could serve to decline the current acute situation.” Chinese reading did not mention that support of XI.
The two men agreed to maintain close contact in the next few days.
Beijing has long backed Tehran as part of the efforts to deepen its strategic and economic weight in the Middle East.
Extending a financial life line in Iran in the midst of American sanctions to Tehran, China buys up to 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, they say analysts, in transference they quote on the coast of Malaysia.
