MOSCOW, June 19 (V7N) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday jointly condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and emphasized the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict, according to statements from both Moscow and Beijing. The phone call between the two leaders comes amidst an unprecedented wave of Israeli strikes on Iran, which has prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters following the call that Putin and Xi "strongly condemn Israel's actions" and believe that an end to the hostilities "should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means."

Chinese state media, including Xinhua news agency, reported that Xi informed Putin that a ceasefire was the "top priority." "Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes," Xi was quoted as saying. He urged "parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war."

The joint stance from Moscow and Beijing signals a deepening of strategic alignment between the two major powers, particularly on a critical global flashpoint.

Putin has been actively positioning Russia as a potential mediator in the conflict. Last week, he held separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering Russia's good offices. The Kremlin noted that Xi expressed support for such mediation, believing it "could serve to de-escalate the current situation." Russia maintains close ties with Iran, having strengthened military cooperation amidst its offensive in Ukraine, while also seeking to preserve good relations with Israel.

However, Western leaders have largely dismissed Putin's mediation overtures, citing Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, publicly rebuffed Putin's offer. "He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'do me a favor, mediate your own'," Trump stated, adding, "Let's mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later." French President Emmanuel Macron has also voiced skepticism, arguing that Russia, currently engaged in a high-intensity conflict and not respecting the UN Charter, cannot credibly act as a mediator.

Despite Western skepticism, Russia and China's united call for de-escalation from a conflict they both condemned underscores a shared perspective on international disputes, emphasizing diplomatic solutions over military force.

END/WD/RH/