(Oct 23): Donald Trump said he plans to speak to President Xi Jinping about China’s purchases of Russian oil when the two leaders meet next week in South Korea, after the US president on Wednesday announced fresh sanctions on top energy companies with ties to the Kremlin.
“What I will really be talking to them about is: how do we end the war with Russia and Ukraine, whether it’s through oil or energy or anything else,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. “And I think he’s going to be very receptive.”
Trump said he believes Xi could have a “big influence” on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump on Wednesday announced he had called off plans to coordinate a meeting with Putin to try to negotiate an end to the war with Ukraine and would implement additional sanctions as he looked to ratchet up pressure on the Russian leader.
“He’s a very strong leader of a very big country,” Trump said of Xi. “I think he can have a big influence, and we will certainly be talking about Russia, Ukraine.”
Trump also said he expects to resolve an ongoing fight over access to rare earth exports from China during the talks, and win a promise from Beijing to resume the purchase of soybeans from the US. He also said the two sides would discuss a deal to reduce nuclear stockpiles.
“We will make a deal on, I think, everything,” Trump said.
See also: Trump signs agreement on critical minerals with Australia
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