The presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and China, Xi Jinping, during a summit in Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. VOA/NI
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for a three-day visit demonstrating Beijing’s new diplomatic clout and offering welcome political support to Russian President Vladimir Putin as fighting in Ukraine escalated into a war of attrition
China and Russia have described Xi’s trip as part of efforts to strengthen their “boundless friendship.” China sees Russia as a source of oil and gas for its energy-intensive economy and as a partner in opposing what they both see as US domination of global affairs.
During their dinner on Monday, Putin and Xi will discuss Ukraine-related issues, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The Russian president is likely to offer a “detailed explanation” of Russia’s view of the current situation.
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The broader meetings of officials from the two countries on various issues are scheduled for Tuesday, Peskov said.
China last month laid out a 12-point plan designed to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which began on February 24, 2022.
On Monday, Xi wrote in Rossiiskaya Gazeta, a daily published by the Russian government, that the Chinese proposal represents “as much as possible the unity of views of the world community,” according to an English translation of the article published by the Russian government. Chinese Mission to the United Nations.
“The document serves as a constructive factor to neutralize the consequences of the crisis and promote a political settlement. Complex problems do not have simple solutions,” Xi said.
In the People’s Daily, the newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, Putin said on Monday: “We are grateful for (China’s) balanced line regarding the events taking place in Ukraine, for understanding their background and true causes.” . ” according to The Associated Press.
“We welcome China’s willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis,” Putin said, the AP reported.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told VOA on Friday: “We know that China and Russia have been improving and increasing their relationship in many different ways, both sides have. … What worries us is that President Xi has not spoken with the President [ucraniano] [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and we think it’s important that he does as well, that he not only gets the Russian perspective here on this war, but that he understands President Zelenskyy’s perspective.”
Kirby also said of Beijing’s proposed peace plan: “We would be concerned if coming out of this meeting there was some kind of call for a ceasefire, because right now, while a ceasefire sounds good, it actually ratifies the achievements of Russia on the ground. In fact, it serves Russia’s purpose of a ceasefire basically to stop now without any acknowledgment that Russia is illegally inside Ukraine.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders would speak on Monday and most of the discussions would take place on Tuesday, National Public Radio reported. He said Xi and Putin are expected to appear before reporters on Tuesday.
Xi’s plan to visit Moscow is the latest sign of the Chinese leader’s growing diplomatic ambitions, following last week’s announcement of a Beijing-brokered deal that allowed Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after seven years of hostility.
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China is signaling that it wants to participate in a future peace process, said Moritz Rudolf, a fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School.
“Part of it is being perceived as a ‘responsible major international power,’” he told VOA.
By proposing a ceasefire, the Chinese appear to be trying to “salvage something for Putin,” said David Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute.
“Russian forces are not doing well,” he told VOA. “And we don’t need Chinese intervention right now.”
Not all observers are quick to dismiss Beijing’s diplomatic overtures.
With Putin burning his bridges with the West and becoming more dependent on China, Xi may have a decent chance of brokering peace, said George Beebe, director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a think tank that advocates moderation in US foreign policy.
“He has limited leeway to reject Chinese involvement outright,” Beebe told VOA.
Xi and Putin last met in China last year when Putin attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games and again in September at a regional conference in Uzbekistan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday that Xi’s visit to Russia “will promote strategic coordination and practical cooperation between the two countries and inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations.”
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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will speak to Xi by phone after the Chinese president’s meeting with Putin in Moscow.
Xi’s visit to Moscow will be the first since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago. China has remained publicly neutral in the Ukraine conflict, while criticizing Western sanctions against Russia, Reuters reported.
White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara and Paris Huang of VOA’s Mandarin service contributed to this report. Some of the material for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
