Thu Jun 19 17:21:57 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article rewritten from the provided text:
**Summary:**
On June 19, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Both leaders strongly condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran and emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution. Xi Jinping urged an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. Putin has offered himself as a mediator, leveraging Russia’s relations with both Iran and Israel. However, Western leaders, including the US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, have rejected Putin’s mediation efforts, suggesting he focus on resolving the conflict in Ukraine first.
**News Article:**
**Putin, Xi Condemn Israeli Strikes on Iran, Call for Diplomatic Solution**
**Moscow, June 19, 2025** – In a phone call today, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed strong condemnation of Israel’s recent strikes on Iran and jointly called for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict.
According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, both Moscow and Beijing believe that a cessation of hostilities should be achieved through political and diplomatic means. Chinese state media reported that Xi Jinping told Putin that an immediate ceasefire was the top priority, urging Israel to halt its attacks to prevent further escalation.
“Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,” Xinhua news agency quoted Xi Jinping as saying.
President Putin has positioned himself as a potential mediator in the conflict, having engaged in phone calls with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week. The Kremlin indicated that Xi Jinping supports Russian mediation efforts as a means to de-escalate the situation.
However, Putin’s offer to mediate has been met with skepticism and resistance from Western leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about Putin’s offer, responded, “Let’s mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later.” Other Western leaders have echoed similar sentiments, citing Russia’s ongoing involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
The international community remains divided on the best path forward as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to unfold.
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