Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed to take his country’s ties with Russia to a new level this year in a video conference with counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, hours after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

He also said, however, that the call was "not connected with Trump's inauguration in any way". The call lasted about one-and-a-half hours, during which Putin and Xi also discussed

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia praised President Trump’s second inauguration, but the American leader did not return the compliment.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would likely impose sanctions on Russia if its president, Vladimir Putin, refuses to negotiate about ending the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the two countries’ close ties, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made positive remarks about Donald Trump’s election victory after his inauguration, saying he had “courage” and clinched a “convincing victory.” President Trump failed to reciprocate those remarks,

President Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “destroying Russia” with its nearly three-year war in Ukraine, adding he hopes the Kremlin leader is open to making a deal to end the conflict.

The ‘dear friends’ discuss Taiwan, the war in Ukraine, and future relations with the US, pledging to ‘defend their legitimate interests’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the two countries’ close ties a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president