Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for some three hours of formal talks at the Kremlin on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day visit. The leaders signed two agreements, one affirming their partnership and one setting out plans for economic cooperation, which they discussed at a joint news conference. They did not announce any major progress toward peace in Ukraine.
Beijing has portrayed itself as a potential negotiator, issuing a 12-point proposal for ending the conflict. Ukraine has dismissed the plan, which includes no demands for Moscow to withdraw its troops. Putin said at the news conference Tuesday that much of China’s plan for Ukraine correlated with Russia’s view, and could form the basis of a future peace agreement, but only if Kyiv and the West were ready. “However, we are seeing no such readiness,” he said. Beijing has not yet indicated if a call between Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is planned for the days ahead.
