Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on what Beijing labeled a “mission of pe...
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on what Beijing labeled a “mission of peace.”
The visit underscores strengthening ties between the two powerful nations and comes as Xi is trying to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. has opposed a ceasefire called for by Xi and expressed concerns that a Beijing-brokered peace pact would be one-sided in favor of Russia, which invaded Ukraine over a year ago.
“I am very glad, at the invitation of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, to come back to the land of our close neighbor,” Xi said, according to Russian-state-run news service TASS. “I am sure my visit will be fruitful.”
After touching down, Xi was greeted on a red carpet as a military band played the two countries’ anthems. Xi hailed a “new era” and said his first state visit to Russia since the start of the war would give “new momentum” to relations. The visit is China’s strongest show of support for Russia since the war began on February 24, 2022.
Xi was scheduled to talk informally with Putin Monday ahead of a formal dinner, then hold peace negotiations on Tuesday. The U.S. and the rest of NATO are watching the visit closely, and Russia is touting it as evidence it has a powerful ally as it has become isolated from the West.
Xi has also reportedly reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although details on that were also unclear. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a phone call last week.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters last week the Biden administration believes a ceasefire would work against Ukraine.
“While that sounds perfectly reasonable and it sounds like a good thing, a ceasefire right now would basically ratify Russia’s conquest. Russia would basically be free to use that ceasefire to further entrench its positions in Ukraine, to rebuild their forces, refit them, re-man them, retrain them so that they can then restart attacks at a time of their choosing.”
The meeting comes a day after Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine where he spoke briefly with supporters.
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