NewsWhat Xi and Putin hope to gain from their combined meeting
Next week, the Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is his first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine by Kremlin troops. Xi's first trip abroad since his win, the March 20-22
Whatever the outcome, the meeting will intensify the ties between the leaders, who have already met 39 other times, including in Beijing at the opening of the Olympics Games on February 4, 2022. The two leaders declared a "no limits partnership" at that meeting, which took place shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Putin was able to import and resupply vital arms and munitions to the fight against Ukraine last year, after launching an attack.
However, Western officials have been warning Beijing that it could soon offer Moscow military assistance. Next week's meeting is a good venue for them to make this announcement.
Alarms were also raised by Qin Gang, the Chinese Foreign Minister. He recently accused the U. S. of hypocrisy in warning China not to supply weapons to Russia. He pointed out that the Biden administration had supplied weapons to Taiwan.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said Monday that "it's something we will watch out for" in reference to any hints of a weapon agreement between the two countries."Obviously, Russia has its interests in trying to draw other countries into the conflict if possible, but our position remains the same regardless of whether they meet."
This is a worrying prospect for U. S. officials, as Chinese weapons, although not seen as able to hand a decisive victory to Putin, could draw out conflict, draining American arms, aid resources, and public goodwill towards helping Ukraine in the fight.
Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that Xi's visit was partially to promote peace and to have conversations about major international issues.
According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, Qin Gang, a senior Chinese diplomat, told his Ukrainian counterpart in a telephone call that Beijing hopes that "all parties will remain calm and rational, and resume peace negotiations as soon as possible."
The United States and NATO are still wary of China's attempt to mediate. Beijing has yet to condemn Russia's war or to call the conflict that. Instead, it is deferring to Russia's insistence that it is a "special military operation."
"As the world enters a new phase of turbulence, change, and as a permanent member to the UN Security Council, and an important power," China's foreign ministry stated in the announcement of Xi's visit.
"Xi also likely sees the benefit in Russia distracting America from China. He said that neither Moscow nor Beijing can deal with the United States or its partners alone; they would rather work together to face external pressure than stand on their own."
Hours before the International Criminal Court (ICC), issued an arrest warrant for Russia's president over war crimes related to the unlawful deportation children from Ukraine to Russia, the Xi-Putin Meeting was announced.
International law experts say that such a warrant typically brings with it an element of public shame - a signal for other countries to carefully review their dealings with the individual under investigation.
"From now on the Russian president has been given the official status as a suspect in committing an international crime - illegal removal and displacement of Ukrainian children," Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kstin stated on Facebook.
"This means that Putin outside Russia should be arrested, and brought before a court. And world leaders will think three more times before shaking hands or sitting at the negotiating table with him. The world has been notified that the Russian regime is criminal, and its leaders and allies will be tried.
Putin is unlikely to be taken into custody by an international court of justice. It's also unlikely that the warrant will have a significant impact on the meeting or Beijing’s position towards Moscow. However, the legal move could put pressure upon the two countries on a global stage.
politics
