China and Russia “cannot be moved away” from one another, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday, in their first phone call since US President Donald Trump upended American foreign policy with a sweeping pivot toward Moscow as he pushes for peace in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday afternoon at the Russian leader's request, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The call, made on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine,

Chinese President Xi Jinping has held a call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and said he was pleased with Moscow’s efforts to hold a summit with the U.S. toward ending the war in Ukraine.