Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited China to meet with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders discussed finding a “political solution” to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- Putin’s visit was his first trip outside Russia since being re-elected for a 5th term
- It was also Putin’s second visit to China in the last six months
- The meeting happened as Russia faces sanctions from Western countries over the Ukraine invasion
- Putin likely wants stronger ties with China due to Russia’s increasing isolation
Could this meeting help stop the fighting in Ukraine? Let’s take a closer look.
Putin Gets “Red Carpet” Treatment in Beijing
When Putin arrived in Beijing, Xi greeted him as “my old friend.” The two leaders held long talks at the Great Hall of the People.
Putin cannot easily travel to many countries right now because some want to arrest him over the Ukraine war. But in China, Putin received a warm welcome fit for a world leader.
Steven McDonald, a BBC reporter in Beijing, said Putin’s visit gives him a chance to “appear to be more of a genuine, normal world leader than an international outcast.”
China Claims to Be “Neutral” But Supports Russia
Although China says it is neutral on the Ukraine war, many disagree. The U.S. has accused China of providing equipment and goods to Russia that support the invasion, even if meant for civilian use.
Furthermore, China is a significant buyer of Russian gas and oil. Gas imports from Russia to China shot up 40% recently as European nations stopped purchasing Russian energy.
Some experts believe Putin’s actions benefit China by undermining Western democracies and NATO while allowing Xi to stay on the sidelines publicly.
Leaders Claim to Promote “Justice” and “Stability”
In statements after their meeting, both Putin and Xi claimed their partnership promotes justice, fairness, stability, and international law worldwide.
However, McDonald pointed out that “many would find that hard to believe” given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s backing of it.
Putin bizarrely stated that he and Xi are “defending the principles of fairness and the democratic world order by international law.” This statement seems very contradictory to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Prospects for Ending the Ukraine War
Despite the lofty claims of promoting justice and democracy, it’s unclear if this meeting will help resolve the terrible conflict in Ukraine anytime soon.
China has pushed for a “political solution” through negotiations but has not provided a specific peace plan. And Russia’s bombings and attacks in Ukraine show no signs of letting up.
The big question is: Can China use its leverage over Russia to help make peace a reality in Ukraine? Only time will tell if this partnership produces meaningful progress.
What did you think of this news report? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the Putin-Xi meeting and chances for ending the Ukraine war. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional feedback!
