Putin and Xi Jinping vow to deepen ‘no limits’ partnership as Russia advances in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit is a show of unity with Beijing as the U.S. pressures Chinese leader Xi Jinping to influence him to end the conflict.

TFD – Discover the strategic collaboration between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during Putin’s state visit to China amid US pressure.

Hong Kong — Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin of China promised on Thursday to strengthen their collaboration, which they have already said has “no limits” and is increasingly marked by their nations’ conflicts with the West.

As Putin launches a fresh onslaught in his war on Ukraine, the two despotic dictators convened in Beijing as a display of solidarity between the two adversaries of the United States.

Putin’s two-day state visit to China marks his first international travel since reorganizing his military leadership to start a fifth term in office. It occurs as the United States increases pressure on China to take further action to halt the war, which is currently in its third year, and as Russia has taken the lead in it.

Days before Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he and Xi announced a “no limits” collaboration. The two seasoned leaders are also close friends. They both signed a statement on Thursday that strengthened their two nations’ all-encompassing strategic cooperation.

However, the war in Ukraine and Putin’s increasing international isolation as a result of Western opposition to it have severely tested ties between China and Russia, who are commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations during Putin’s visit.

Though China has strived to portray itself as neutral in the conflict, it has provided Russia with diplomatic support as well as advanced technology with both civilian and military uses. Additionally, it is growing in importance as a partner in the Russian economy and one of the main markets for the country’s gas and oil that are approved by the West.

The West has rejected China’s hazy 12-point peace proposal, which would have allowed Russia to keep its territorial gains in Ukraine.

China’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine have garnered Putin’s gratitude, according to Xi, who also stated that China “hopes for the early return of Europe to peace and stability and will continue to play a constructive role toward this.”

Even though Xi is still prepared to back his “dear friend” Putin, he must also take into account the potential consequences for his ties to the US and Europe.

The U.S., which last month approved $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine that is just starting to arrive, has imposed a series of sanctions on Chinese companies accused of aiding the Russian war effort, and is also threatening to sanction Chinese banks.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support” and that he had informed Chinese leaders that “if China does not address this problem, we will” during a visit to Beijing last month.

Xi, who is seeking to retain or expand overseas markets amid an economic slowdown at home, is also reluctant to alienate leaders in Europe. Last week, during his first visit to the continent in five years, Xi was pressured by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to use his influence over Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Rejecting their criticism of his nation’s ties with Russia, Xi asserted that China was not involved in the conflict. However, the pressure might be working: For the first time since2022, Chinese shipments to Russia decreased in March of this year, following a record $240 billion in total trade between the two countries in 2018.

Putin arrived in the Chinese capital early Thursday and was greeted with full military honors outside the Great Hall of the People next to Tiananmen Square, where he shook hands with Xi before heading inside for talks.

Putin is anticipated to travel to Beijing in addition to the northern city of Harbin, which is hosting a trade exhibition between China and Russia this week and is located close to the two nations’ 2,600-mile border.

Putin made China the first stop of his fifth term, citing the “unprecedented level of strategic partnership between our countries” in an interview with China’s state-run news agency Xinhua on Wednesday.

Andrei Belousov, an economist who was unexpectedly appointed as Russia’s defense minister last week, is one of the people going with Putin. Sergei Shoigu, his predecessor, is traveling as well.

Putin’s military may be able to make significant advance in the upcoming weeks, which worries Kyiv and its allies. Russia’s recent incursion in northern Ukraine has made early victories.

Over 40 times, Xi, 70, and Putin, 71, have had face-to-face or virtual meetings. When Xi was in Moscow a few days after securing an extraordinary third term as Chinese president in March 2023, Putin was in Beijing for the last time in October.