Putin thanks Xi for China’s initiatives on Ukraine – DW – 05/16/2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that Russia was moving forward “on all fronts” in Ukraine.

Putin nevertheless said he was “grateful” to China for trying to find a solution to the war in Ukraine.

“We are grateful to our Chinese friends and colleagues for the initiatives they are proposing to resolve this issue,” Putin said, speaking alongside Xi.

The EU and US recently called on Xi to use his influence to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

The Russian president made the remarks during a two-day state visit to China, his first foreign trip since Russia’s last election.

Putin was greeted by Chinese officials as well as a military honor guard upon landing, before being greeted by Xi in a grand welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Putin and Xi hail Sino-Russian relations

Russian and Chinese state media covered the arrival, relaying remarks from the two leaders in which they praised their relations.

“Relations between Russia and China are neither opportunistic nor directed against anyone,” Putin said, adding: “Our cooperation in international affairs is one of the stabilizing factors in the international arena.”

Xi then told Putin that “China-Russia relations (are) not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries… but are also conducive to peace,” according to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry.

“China is ready to work with Russia to… uphold fairness and justice in the world,” he added.

Regarding security in the Asia-Pacific region, Putin called for building a security landscape that excludes “closed military-political alliances,” which he called “very harmful” and “counterproductive.”

The “limitless” relationship between Moscow and Beijing

In 2022, Beijing and Moscow described their relations as “boundless”, just before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing has benefited from Moscow’s support by receiving cheap gas and oil. Yet China is increasingly coming under pressure from Western countries, with its banks facing the threat of US sanctions that could cut off its access to international financial markets.

Ahead of the trip, the Kremlin said Putin and Xi would “define key areas of development of Russian-Chinese cooperation and exchange views on international and regional issues” during discussions on “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation “between their nations.

Ahead of Putin’s trip, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov summed up the partnership between the two authoritarian nations, saying that Moscow and Beijing were “objectively interested in maintaining our lead in efforts to establish a fairer and more equitable world order.” democratic”.

Both leaders recently amended their respective countries’ constitutions to retain power for life and are accused of using their countries’ military might to intimidate their neighbors.

fb,js/sms,ab (AFP, AP)