China’s Foreign Ministry has described Xi’s trip to Moscow as a “peace visit”. It is about “practicing true multilateralism, improving global governance and making contributions to the development and progress of the world”. Xi and Putin would exchange views on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues, ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. “China will maintain its objective and fair stance on the Ukraine crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks,” he added.
Moscow, on the other hand, emphasized that the signing of a joint declaration “on deepening the comprehensive partnership and the beginning of a new era for strategic relations” is planned. According to reports by Russian news agencies, Kremlin adviser Ushakov expressly welcomed Beijing’s cautious stance on the Ukraine war. “Of course, the Ukraine conflict will be part of the talks,” Ushakov said. Beijing understands “the real causes of this crisis” and Moscow is positive about the Chinese initiative from the end of February to settle the conflict. The two presidents also want to talk about cooperation in the “military-technical” area.
Accordingly, the signing of a document on Russian-Chinese economic relations is also planned, as well as around a dozen other agreements that are still being worked out.
The Chinese President’s visit comes at a time when Moscow is turning more and more to Beijing because of Western sanctions as a result of the Ukraine conflict. Observers assume that Russia could become dependent on Beijing as a result. Ushakov contradicted this: “There is neither a leader nor a follower in relations between Russia and China. Both sides trust each other as equals.” China and Russia are close allies, and they keep emphasizing that their cooperation is “boundless”.
It is Xi’s first visit to Moscow in almost four years. Next week’s meeting comes just over a year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. China has endeavored to present itself as a neutral party in the conflict. A number of Western heads of state and government, however, consider this to be little credible. They accuse Beijing of silently supporting Moscow.
Last month, China unveiled a 12-point plan to end the war in Ukraine. Among other things, it called for dialogue and respect for the territorial sovereignty of all states. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy then said he wanted to meet Xi. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday declined to confirm whether Xi also wants to meet Zelenskyy.
On Thursday, however, the new Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, called his Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba for the first time since taking office. Qin urged Kiev and Moscow to resume peace talks “as soon as possible.”
The US stressed on Friday that it rejects the Chinese demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine at this point in time. This would merely consolidate the “Russian conquest” in parts of Ukraine and give the Kremlin the opportunity to prepare a new offensive, said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
