China’s Xi Jinping preparing for summit with Vladimir Putin in Russia to push for Ukraine war talks, US report says
- The meeting is part of a push for multiparty Ukraine peace talks and will allow Beijing to reiterate its calls that nuclear arms not be used, insiders say
- The timing of the trip has not been finalised, but it could be in April or early May, when Russia celebrates its World War II victory over Germany
Xi’s meeting with Putin will be part of a push for multiparty talks on peace in Ukraine and allow China to reiterate its calls that nuclear weapons not be used, the report added. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year.
Preparations for the trip at an early stage and the timing has not been finalised, the WSJ said, adding that Xi could visit in April or in early May, when Russia celebrates its World War II victory over Germany.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi arrived in Moscow on Tuesday as the country appears to be ramping up its diplomatic effort to push for a peace settlement in Ukraine, and just hours after Putin announced Russia was suspending its participation in a landmark nuclear arms treaty with the United States.
Wang is likely to discuss Xi’s trip while he is in Moscow, WSJ said, quoting people familiar with the summit planning.
The Chinese diplomat told one of Putin’s closest allies on Tuesday that Beijing’s relationship with Moscow was “rock solid” and would withstand any test in a changing international situation.
China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia has come under scrutiny in the West after the United States said it was concerned that Beijing might be considering supplying weapons to Russia a year since the invasion of Ukraine.
At a meeting in Moscow, Wang told Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, that he looked forward to discussions about security.
China doesn’t want ‘prolonged’ Ukraine war, says top diplomat Wang Yi
“Chinese-Russian relations are mature in character: they are rock solid and will withstand any test in a changing international situation,” Wang told “Comrade” Patrushev through a Russian interpreter in remarks aired on state television.
Wang said Russia and China should work out new joint steps to ensure the security of both countries, without elaborating.
Patrushev, who is close to Putin, told “Comrade” Wang that Beijing was a top priority for Russian foreign policy and that the two countries must stick together against the West.
“In the context of a campaign that is being waged by the collective West to contain both Russia and China, the further deepening of Russian-Chinese cooperation and interaction in the international arena is of particular importance,” RIA cited Patrushev as saying.
