Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a two-day state visit to China. This marks Putin’s first foreign trip since his recent inauguration for his fifth term as president. The Kremlin confirmed his visit, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties between Russia and China.
China’s leader, Xi Jinping, warmly received the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, during an official ceremony on Thursday to mark the commencement of Putin’s state visit to China.
Russia’s economic dependence on China has grown in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine over two years ago. Putin’s visit is a reflection of this increased reliance.
Putin is set to meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping and other top officials to underline their dedication to the “no limits” relationship they signed in 2022, shortly before Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit to China, demonstrating a strong alliance between the two authoritarian nations. This visit comes at a time when Moscow is actively pursuing a new offensive in Ukraine.
As the first rays of dawn broke, an honor guard from the People’s Liberation Army, the armed wing of China’s ruling Communist Party, welcomed Putin as he disembarked from his plane.
A motorcade led by a brigade of military police on motorcycles entered the city, signaling the arrival of the prominent figure. Scheduled meetings with his counterpart Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials are set to take place, highlighting their steadfast dedication to the “no limits” partnership established in 2022, right before Russia initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s economic dependence on China has grown significantly in recent years due to Western sanctions limiting its access to the global trading system.
In an interview with Chinese media, Putin expressed his readiness to negotiate the conflict in Ukraine on the eve of the visit. He emphasized the importance of considering the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including Russia. Putin was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency, stating, “We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ukraine for a two-day trip amidst the ongoing conflict in the Kharkiv region. This offensive, which began last week, marks the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began. As a result, nearly 8,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes.
The war in Ukraine has reached a crucial point for its military, which is eagerly awaiting new supplies of anti-aircraft missiles and artillery shells from the United States. In addition to the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region, Moscow is also making efforts to expand its influence in the area.
According to Xinhua, Putin stated, “We have never declined negotiations. We are committed to achieving a comprehensive, sustainable, and fair resolution to this conflict through peaceful methods. We are willing to engage in a dialogue regarding Ukraine, but it is crucial that these negotiations consider the interests of all countries involved, including our own.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that any negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict must prioritize the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, the establishment of a tribunal to hold those responsible for the aggression accountable, and the provision of security guarantees for Ukraine.
According to Putin, the failure of negotiations in the early stages of the war can be attributed to the West, while he has expressed his admiration for China’s peace plan for Ukraine, which would enable Russia to solidify its territorial advancements.
According to the speaker, Beijing has put forth practical and constructive measures to attain peace. He emphasizes the importance of refraining from pursuing vested interests and escalating tensions, as well as minimizing the negative impact of the conflict on the global economy.
Putin has recently started his fifth term in office this month.
He stated that Russia and China are not the only countries striving to reform the international system and contribute to the establishment of a multipolar global order.
Russia and China have significantly bolstered their military ties in recent years. They have conducted various joint war games, which encompass naval drills, patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, and the deployment of ground forces to each other’s territories for joint drills.
China continues to be a significant market for Russian military equipment, while also making substantial strides in developing its own domestic defense industry. This includes investments in the construction of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.
According to Putin, Russia has previously shared advanced military technologies with China, which has greatly enhanced China’s defense capability. In October 2019, Putin specifically mentioned that Russia was assisting China in developing an early warning system to detect ballistic missile launches. This system utilizes ground-based radar and satellites, technology that was previously only possessed by Russia and the U.S.