The authoritarian leaders aim to emphasize their unity during their two-day state visit.
advertisementPresident Vladimir Putin thanked China for its efforts to resolve the Ukraine war during a summit in Beijing on Thursday.
At the same time, President Xi Jinping said China hopes to return peace and stability to Europe and that China will “play a constructive role for this.”
China laid out a general plan to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, but did not elaborate on how it would work with both sides.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautiously welcomed China’s initiative in February 2023 but said it would only be accepted if Russian troops withdraw from all occupied areas of Ukraine.
Prior to Thursday’s remarks, Putin and Xi signed a joint statement to deepen their strategic partnership.
China has emerged as Moscow’s lifeline as Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine cut off much of its access to international trade.
In July 2023 US intelligence report China “probably” provided Moscow with key technology, including drones and fighter jet components, and used it to wage war in Ukraine, it claimed.
Putin said he would inform the Chinese leader in detail about the “situation in Ukraine.”
“We appreciate the initiative of our Chinese colleagues and friends to regulate the situation,” he added.
The visit underlines the close ties between the two authoritarian leaders and comes as Moscow steps up its offensive against Ukraine amid Wednesday’s withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Kharkiv.
Chinese state media called the Russian president an “old friend” ahead of his two-day state visit.
Arriving at dawn, President Xi welcomed President Putin with military honors at the Great Hall of the People located in the center of the Chinese capital.
Chinese authorities said the two countries were deepening their relationship as “good neighbors, good friends and good partners,” according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
In interviews with Chinese media before arriving in Beijing, Putin said the Kremlin was ready to negotiate on the Ukraine conflict.
“We are open to talks about Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,” state news agency Xinhua quoted the Russian leader as saying.
“Unfortunately, neither Ukraine nor Western backers support these plans,” he continued. “We are not prepared to have an equal, honest and open dialogue based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.”
Zelensky said any deal must include restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and providing security guarantees to Kiev along with the withdrawal of Russian troops.
China claims to take a neutral position in the dispute, but experts have previously told Euronews that China’s position is complex and pushed and pulled In a competitive direction.
advertisementChina has backed Moscow’s claim that Russia provoked the West’s attack on Ukraine, even though Putin said he wanted to restore Russia’s century-old borders for the attack.
Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the Russian leader as saying that relations between Russia and China “are not disadvantageous to anyone.”
“Today, our cooperation on world issues is one of the main factors stabilizing the international arena,” Putin said.
At an early morning meeting on Thursday, President Xi congratulated President Putin on his fifth term in office.
Putin faces no credible opposition in the presidential race and, like Xi, has not laid out any plans for a potential successor.
advertisementRussian troops launched an offensive against the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine that began last week, the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Ukrainian forces withdrew from villages around Kharkiv. Meanwhile, about 8,000 people have left their homes.
