Putin and Xi Jinping meet in person

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have reinforced their “no-limits” partnership amid increasing tensions with the West. During their summit in Beijing, they criticized US military alliances in Asia and the Pacific.

Putin thanked Xi for China’s proposals to end the war in Ukraine, although Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected these proposals, viewing them as supportive of Russia’s position.

Putin’s two-day visit to China comes as Russian forces continue their offensive in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. This area has seen significant conflict since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.

China claims to be neutral in the conflict but has supported Russia’s view that the West provoked the invasion. China also supplies crucial components for Russian weapon production and has not criticized the invasion.

In 2023, China proposed a peace plan calling for a ceasefire and direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. However, the plan was rejected by Ukraine and the West because it did not demand Russia withdraw from occupied Ukrainian territories.

China and Russia also issued a joint statement condemning the revival of Nazism and militarism. Putin has falsely described the Ukrainian government as neo-Nazis, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky being Jewish and having lost relatives in the Holocaust.

This visit highlighted the strong partnership between China and Russia as both nations face challenges in their relations with the US and Europe. Hoo Tiang Boon, a researcher in Chinese foreign policy, noted that the visit showed that neither country intends to distance itself from the other despite global pressures.