ISLAMABAD/MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his “dear friend” Chinese President Xi Jinping, planned talks on Tuesday after a Kremlin dinner where the isolated Russian president showcased his most potent ally in the face of Western opposition to the war in Ukraine.
Washington denounced President Xi’s visit, saying the timing just days after the international criminal court accused Putin of war crimes indicated China was providing Russia with “diplomatic cover” to commit additional crimes.
It was President Xi’s first trip abroad since he obtained an unprecedented third term the previous month. The Chinese leader Xi has been trying to portray Beijing as the potential peacemaker in Ukraine, even as he deepens economic relations with his closest ally.
Putin and Xi greeted one another as “dear friend” when
Putin and Xi greeted one another as “dear friend” when they met in the Kremlin on Monday (yesterday), and Russian state news agencies later reported they held talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours, with official talks scheduled for Tuesday.
In Russia’s televised comments, President Putin told President Xi he viewed China’s plans for resolving the Ukraine issue with respect. He confessed to being “slightly envious” of China’s ” effective system for developing the economy and strengthening the state”.
President Xi, for his part, praised President Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year.
Russia has been publicly promoting plans for a visit by Xi for months. But the timing gave the Chinese leader’s support new meaning after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant accusing President Putin of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine.
Russia denies illegally deporting children, saying it has taken in orphans to protect them. It opened a criminal case against the international court’s prosecutor and judges. Beijing said the warrant reflected double standards.
