According to officials, Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin stated that a “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” would be discussed.
Beijing, an ally of Russia, has proposed proposals to end the war in Ukraine. Which have been met with lukewarm support by the West.
Western nations have warned Beijing against providing armaments to Moscow.
This will be President Xi’s first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. On Monday, he is scheduled to have lunch with Mr. Putin, followed by discussions on Tuesday.
China will maintain “an objective and fair position” on the Ukraine conflict and “play a constructive role in promoting peace talks,” according to a foreign ministry spokesperson.
The presence of the Chinese leader indicates Beijing’s unwavering support for Moscow. Putin and Xi favor multipolarity, so their worldviews are similar.
The two men declared their partnership to be limitless a year ago. This is not strictly accurate.
The US claims that China is contemplating supplying Russia with lethal aid to help it win the war in Ukraine. Although China has not done so thus far.
As for the proclaimed partnership between Moscow and Beijing, Russia, whose economy is one-tenth the size of China’s, is increasingly relegated to a subordinate position.
The Chinese peace proposals asked for peace negotiations and national sovereignty respect. However, the 12-point document did not state that Russia must disengage its forces from Ukraine.
In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his desire to meet with Chinese President Xi, stating, “I want to believe that China will not provide weapons to Russia.”
Some US media outlets have reported that Mr. Xi and Mr. Zelensky will communicate over the phone following the Chinese leader’s visit to Moscow, but this has not been confirmed.
Kyiv has exerted significant effort for engagement. Ukraine thinks President Xi’s tour is meant to show Russia’s allies.
Mr. Kuleba stated, “I do not believe China has reached the point where it is prepared to arm Russia. Neither do I believe this visit will result in harmony… The visit to Moscow is a message in and of itself, but I do not anticipate any immediate results.”
Mr. Kuleba stated that the message was “that China and Russia are very close, close enough for the Chinese leader to visit his ailing Russian counterpart.”
“I think this tells the world, especially the non-West, that Russia is not alone and that China is communicating with them.”
The United States is eager for Mr. Xi and Mr. Zelensky to communicate. The National Security Council spokesman called dialogue “extremely beneficial.”
On Thursday, China’s foreign minister urged Kyiv and Moscow to start peace talks. Mr. Kuleba stated that the two had discussed the “importance of the principle of territorial integrity.”
