A top Chinese diplomat told his European counterpart that his country needs Russia to keep fighting in Ukraine to distract the United States from focusing on Beijing, Hong Kong's paper of record reported last week.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union’s top diplomat that Beijing can’t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China,

As president, Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for a U.S. rapprochement with Russia, in distinct contrast with the policies of previous administrations. On June 16, for instance, he called Russia’s expulsion from the elite Group of Seven (G7) forum of major advanced economies a “mistake.