Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned more talks on Tuesday after a Kremlin dinner where the isolated Russian president gain favor with his most powerful ally in the face of Western opposition to the war in Ukraine.
Xi is on his first international trip since being elected to an extraordinary third term earlier this month, and he is attempting to position Beijing as a potential mediator in Ukraine while also strengthening economic ties with his closest ally.
Putin and Xi greeted one another as “dear friend” when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4 and half hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday.
In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China’s proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year.
For months, Moscow has been publicly promoting Xi's visit. However, the timing of the Chinese leader's personal support took on new significance after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant accusing Putin of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine on Friday.
Meanwhile, Washington condemned Xi's visit, saying it demonstrated that Beijing was giving Moscow "diplomatic cover" to commit more crimes. According to White House spokesman John Kirby, Xi should use his influence to pressure Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine, and Washington is concerned that Beijing may instead call for a cease-fire that would allow Russian troops to remain.
China has released a proposal to resolve the Ukraine crisis, which the West has largely dismissed as a ploy to buy Putin time.
Xi is on his first international trip since being elected to an extraordinary third term earlier this month, and he is attempting to position Beijing as a potential mediator in Ukraine while also strengthening economic ties with his closest ally.
Putin and Xi greeted one another as “dear friend” when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4 and half hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday.
In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China’s proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year.
For months, Moscow has been publicly promoting Xi's visit. However, the timing of the Chinese leader's personal support took on new significance after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant accusing Putin of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine on Friday.
Meanwhile, Washington condemned Xi's visit, saying it demonstrated that Beijing was giving Moscow "diplomatic cover" to commit more crimes. According to White House spokesman John Kirby, Xi should use his influence to pressure Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine, and Washington is concerned that Beijing may instead call for a cease-fire that would allow Russian troops to remain.
China has released a proposal to resolve the Ukraine crisis, which the West has largely dismissed as a ploy to buy Putin time.
