Topline
In his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February, President Vladimir Putin admitted China had “questions and concerns” about the war—a sign the two eastern superpowers might not be on the same page, even as China attempts to remain neutral.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time on Thursday … [+]
Key Facts
Speaking at a summit in Uzbekistan, Putin said Moscow and Beijing play a crucial role in providing stability in the region and around the world to establish a “fair, democratic and multipolar world order,”, and added Russia understands China’s concerns about the ongoing war, Russian news agency TASS reported.
Xi, however, stayed quiet on the conflict in Ukraine, according to a readout of the meeting from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, saying instead China would work with Russia “on issues concerning their respective core interests.”
China, which declared a “friendship with no limits” with Russia at their last meeting in February, ahead of Russia’s invasion, has not given Russia any military aid since the start of the war, although it has not followed Western Europe and the United States in imposing harsh economic sanctions on the Kremlin or providing military aid to Ukraine, either.
The meeting comes one week after Russia retreated from occupied territory in eastern Ukraine, as Ukrainian forces made their first major gains in months in Kharkiv.
Key Background
The meeting comes as Russia’s invasion enters its seventh month, killing nearly 5,600 civilians and injuring nearly 7,900 as of August 22, according to a United Nations report. Dozens of companies have also exited Russia in the aftermath of Putin’s invasion, while the European Union has imposed economic sanctions and the United States has sent more than $15.2 billion in military aid, including a $2 billion package announced last week. In retaliation, Putin has threatened to cut energy supplies if the European Union imposes a price cap on the sale of Russian oil and gas. Economists expect that to have dire consequences for Europe’s energy supplies this winter. A report last month from the United Kingdom’s energy regulator Ofgem projected energy prices in the U.K. to spike 80% this fall, amid soaring inflation as oil supplies run dry. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that gas prices could spike this winter as the European Union plans to cut off Russian oil by December.
Big Number
17%. That’s how much more crude oil China purchased from Russia between April and June than it did over that same period last year, Reuters reported.
Further Reading
Russia Admits Retreat As Ukraine Makes First Major Gains In Months (Forbes)
Xi and Putin meet and pledge to ‘inject stability’ in the world (The Washington Post)
Putin says Xi has questions and concerns over Ukraine (Reuters)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/15/putin-admits-china-had-concerns-about-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/