Topline
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday in Xi’s first trip to Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago, signaling deeper ties between Moscow and Beijing, as U.S. tensions with both countries continue to sour.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow.
Key Facts
Xi, who has fashioned himself in recent months as a neutral arbiter for peace between Russia and Ukraine, arrived at an airport near Moscow Monday morning, before meeting with Putin at the Kremlin.
The Chinese leader is expected to stay in Moscow until Wednesday, according to a statement released last week from China’s Foreign Ministry, and will meet with Putin over dinner Monday night and participate in discussions with officials Tuesday, according to the AP.
The visit came “at the invitation of Vladimir Putin,” and will include discussion on “the further development of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China,” according to a statement last week from the Kremlin.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Monday in … [+]
Xi was welcomed by Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin Sergei Udovenko as he arrived in Moscow.
The meeting comes less than a week after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant … [+]
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s motorcade drives toward the Kremlin.
Xi and Putin had met at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan last September, … [+]
Key Background
China has refused to cut ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine last February, even as western countries, including the U.S., impose harsh economic sanctions on Moscow and deliver humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. Over the past year, Beijing has stepped up its imports of Russian oil—while European Union member states cut their usage of it. U.S. officials have also warned China could provide “lethal support” to Russian forces in Ukraine, though Xi has reportedly urged Putin against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine (Putin suspended Russia’s involvement in a U.S. nuclear treaty last month). The International Criminal Court last week issued an arrest warrant for Putin for allegedly committing war crimes, including the “unlawful deportation” of children from Ukraine.
Tangent
Tensions between the U.S. and China have also worsened in recent months, as U.S. officials take action against suspected Chinese surveillance programs. Last month, U.S. fighter jets shot down a Chinese spy balloon after it crossed over the continental U.S., following pleas, largely from lawmakers on the right, to shoot it down. Last week, the Biden Administration threatened to ban Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok in the U.S. unless its parent company ByteDance sold it, over national security concerns that Beijing could take users’ personal information.
What To Watch For
Xi also reportedly plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of his mission to broker peace, though it’s not yet clear when that visit would take place. Zelensky has said he is open to peace talks, but only if Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine.
Further Reading
China’s Leader Xi Jinping Will Visit Putin In Moscow Next Week (Forbes)
Xi Jinping Reportedly Planning Moscow Trip As U.S. Claims China Might Offer ‘Lethal’ Aid To Russia (Forbes)
China Helping Russia’s War With Ukraine With Military Aid—Violating Sanctions—Reports Show (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/03/20/in-photos-chinas-xi-meets-with-putin-as-tensions-with-washington-flare/