China said it hopes all those with a stake in the Russia-Ukraine war would play a role in the peace negotiations, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15.

The Trump-Putin summit will discuss the control of land in Ukraine, swathes of which Russia has seized during the course of its full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022. Trump is trying to broker an end to Russia’s war.

Kyiv and its European allies have urged Trump not to agree to any concessions of Ukrainian land to Russia, saying such decisions are Ukraine’s alone to make, and warned against what they said is rewarding Moscow’s illegal aggression.

At a daily press briefing on Tuesday, August 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian was asked about Trump and Putin’s decision to hold a summit without inviting any representatives from Ukraine or the European Union (EU).

“China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, and is glad to see Russia and the U.S. keep in contact, improve their relations and advance the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” Lin said, according to a transcript released by the ministry.

“We hope all parties concerned and stakeholders will take part in the negotiation process in due course and reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement acceptable to parties concerned at an early date.”

China is a vital strategic partner of Russia’s. While it has said it plays no role in the war, Beijing has provided Russia with a major economic lifeline through large-scale oil purchases, helping Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.