China is pleased to see Russia and the United States maintaining contact and improving ties to advance a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping said in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Russian leader briefs Chinese president on Moscow’s communication with Washington as Donald Trump’s deadline for ceasefire looms.

U S president Donald Trump said he will meet “very shortly” with Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine and that he will announce the location soon. “We’re going to be announcing later, and we’re going to have a meeting with Russia,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.