China’s Xi to meet Putin in Moscow subsequent week

• By Steve Rosenberg, Stephen McDonell and James Landale
• in Moscow, Beijing and Kyiv

17 March 2023

China’s President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow subsequent week to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials say.

The Kremlin stated they would speak about a “full partnership and strategic co-operation”.

The take a appear at comes as Beijing, an ally of Russia, has supplied proposals to finish the war in Ukraine, to which the West has supplied a lukewarm reception.

Western nations have warned Beijing against supplying Moscow with weapons.

This will be President Xi’s initially take a appear at to Russia contemplating the reality that Russian troops invaded Ukraine. He is due to have lunch with Mr Putin on Monday followed by talks on Tuesday.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman stated China would uphold “an objective and fair position” on the war in Ukraine and “play a constructive function in marketing talks for peace”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson stated that China playing a genuine function in restoring sovereignty to Ukraine would be welcomed.

The reality the Chinese leader is going to Russia signals Beijing’s sturdy aid for Moscow. There is no surprise about that: Mr Putin and Mr Xi share a equivalent globe view, every embrace the notion of a multi-polar globe.

Final year the two males declared their partnership has no limits. That is not strictly appropriate.

Up till now China has not supplied Russia with lethal aid to help it win the war in Ukraine, even although the US claims China is considering of undertaking so.

As for the declared partnership amongst Moscow and Beijing, Russia – with an economy a 10th the size of China’s – finds itself increasingly in the function of junior companion.

So the Chinese government certainly has some sway a lot more than Russia. Other elements driving interest in this take a appear at are Beijing’s claim to be neutral and that it has not opposed speculation that it could act as an sincere broker amongst Moscow and Kyiv.

It could effectively not be a coincidence that Monday’s meeting demands spot on the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, which was opposed by every Russia and China.

Crucially, China is coming off the back of a crucial diplomatic coup, getting facilitated a deal for Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic relations.

Even so some argue that its stated neutrality is a sham and it is in Beijing’s geopolitical interests for the war to continue just since Russia is undertaking its dirty operate – taking on the West and consuming up Western sources and earnings.

China’s proposals recognized as for peace negotiations and respect for national sovereignty. But the 12-point document did not specifically say that Russia will have to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

Video caption,

Watch: 1 year of war in Ukraine in 87 seconds

In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he wanted to meet Mr Xi – “I in fact want to assume that China will not offer weapons to Russia,” he stated.

Some US media have reported that Mr Xi and Mr Zelensky will speak by phone suitable immediately after the Chinese leader’s take a appear at to Moscow, but this is nevertheless to be confirmed.

Kyiv has been pushing tough for some sort of engagement. Ukraine believes President Xi is producing the take a appear at to send a signal to the globe that Russia has at least some allies.

In an interview with the BBC ahead of President Xi’s take a appear at was announced, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba stated: “I in no way think China has reached the moment now when it desires to, when it definitely is ready to arm Russia. Nor do I think that this take a appear at will outcome in peace… The take a appear at to Moscow in itself is a message but I in no way think it will have any speedy consequences.”

The message, Mr Kuleba stated, was “that China and Russia are definitely close, close sufficient for the Chinese leader to take a appear at his Russian counterpart, who is not undertaking definitely appropriately.

“And I think this is the message to the full globe, to the West but also most importantly, to the non-West, that Russia is not alone, that China is speaking to them.”

The US is keen for Mr Xi and Mr Zelensky to be in speak to. The US National Security Council’s spokesman stated it would be “a definitely good challenge if the two of them speak”.

On Thursday, China’s foreign minister urged Kyiv and Moscow to restart peace talks as swiftly as attainable for the duration of a phone make contact with with Mr Kuleba, who in turn stated the two had discussed the “significance of the principle of territorial integrity”.