China’s Xi Meets With Putin As Tensions With Washington Flare

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.

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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 … [+] the two leaders’ first in-person meeting since Russian forces invaded Ukraine last year.

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Xi was welcomed by Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin Sergei Udovenko as he arrived in Moscow.

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The meeting comes less than a week after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant … [+] for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

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, … [+] though Monday’s meeting is Xi’s first in Moscow since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

Sputnik

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.