China and Russia positioning themselves as voices of reason, calling for de-escalation of a conflict the United States is contemplating on entering — these are the optics Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin sought to project during a phone call on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both condemned Israel on Thursday over its strikes on Iran and agreed that de-escalation was needed, the Kremlin said after the two leaders spoke by telephone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate an end to the Iran and Israel conflict, while President Trump expressed openness to Russian involvement, and Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a resolution in a call with Putin.