US Ambassador Burns: Xi-Zelensky Call "Good First Step"

US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, has called on Beijing to do more to press Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

• Burns said, per Reuters, that last week's call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "a good first step," but China "needs to push Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine."
• Burns: "It would be helpful if China pushed Russia to stop attacking Ukrainian civilians... We would like to see china be more tough-minded in its advice to Russians."
• Burns also confirmed that US intelligence continues to see no signs that Beijing has provided lethal aid to Moscow.
• Although China has significant economic leverage over Moscow, the Biden administration remains wary of Chinese intentions re Ukraine and continues to express concern that Beijing may yet move to fortify Russia's military position.
• Gideon Rachman at FT writes: "Ukrainians are more hopeful. They thought they saw real signs of tension between Putin and Xi during the Chinese president’s recent visit to Moscow — and even claimed to me that Xi cut short his visit."