Summary by Global Headlines Today

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Russian President Vladimir Putin for a three-day visit during which they signed two agreements for partnership and economic cooperation. The visit was seen as a show of Beijing's support for Moscow under Western sanctions, and Xi's bid for leadership of the non-Western world. The leaders discussed China's 12-point proposal for ending the Ukraine conflict, which Putin said correlated with Russia's view and could form the basis of a future peace agreement. However, there has been no such readiness from Kyiv and the West. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also visited Kyiv to show support, becoming the first post-war Japanese leader to visit an active war zone.

Xi and Putin sign agreements as Japan’s leader visits site of alleged Russian atrocities

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for some three hours of formal talks at the Kremlin on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day visit. The leaders signed two agreements, one affirming partnership and one setting out plans for economic cooperation, which they discussed at a joint news conference. They did not announce any major progress toward peace in Ukraine, which Putin said the two leaders discussed at length.

Beijing has portrayed itself as a potential negotiator, issuing a 12-point proposal for ending the conflict, which includes no demands for Moscow to withdraw its troops, and which Ukraine has dismissed. Chinese state media has portrayed the visit as Xi’s bid for leadership of the non-Western world. Putin said at the news conference Tuesday that much of China’s plan for Ukraine correlated with Russia’s view, and could form the basis of a future peace agreement, but only if Kyiv and the West were ready. “However, we are seeing no such readiness,” he said.

Here’s what to know

• The visit, a show of Beijing’s support for Moscow as it struggles under Western sanctions and mounting international condemnation, is Xi’s first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Beijing has billed the trip as a peace mission but has not yet indicated if a formal call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will also take place. Moscow has become increasingly dependent on Beijing to keep its economy afloat, as the war curbs its exports of oil and other commodities.
• Xi has invited Putin — whom Xi called his “dear friend” upon arrival for the state visit — to visit China later this year. Putin and Xi appear to be positioning themselves as leaders of a new global order opposed to U.S. power. The White House has accused Xi of providing “diplomatic cover” for Putin after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest — a largely symbolic move, as Russia, like the United States, does not accept the court’s jurisdiction.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Kyiv Tuesday to meet with Zelensky, becoming the first post-war Japanese leader to visit an active war zone and the final leader of the Group of Seven advanced nations to make the trek to Ukraine’s capital to show support. Kishida visited Bucha, the Ukranian town where Russian forces killed scores of civilians and buried them in mass graves. “I really feel great anger at the atrocity upon visiting that very place here," he said in remarks, Reuters reported.

Many parts of a Chinese proposal for ending the war in Ukraine are in line with Moscow’s outlook, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

“Of course, we have not overlooked the situation around Ukraine,” Putin said at a news conference. “We believe that many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China are consonant with Russia’s approaches and can be taken as a basis for a peaceful settlement when the West and Kyiv are ready for it.

“However, so far, we do not observe such readiness on their part,” Putin added.

Beijing shared a 12-point proposal for ending the war in Ukraine in late February. Many in the West say the plan would serve as diplomatic cover for Moscow to regroup without having to withdraw troops.

Putin said Xi prioritized discussing the proposal during their talks Monday, the first day of Xi’s three-day visit to Moscow. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Russia said it would resume peace negotiations with Ukraine “as soon as possible.” Additionally, “Russia spoke positively of China’s objective and fair stance on the Ukraine issue,” CCTV reported.

The two leaders also emphasized what they said was a shared interest in respecting U.N. charters and decisions by the U.N. Security Council, of which both China and Russia are permanent members, according to CCTV.

“Russia and China strongly oppose any state or bloc harming the interests of other countries,” Putin said at Tuesday’s news conference. “On most international issues, the positions of Russia and China are close or coincide.”

Yury Ushakov, an aide to Putin, told journalists Tuesday that the two leaders also discussed military cooperation and would “continue implementing the agreements that were reached earlier through the Defense Ministry.” Ushakov did not specify whether this meant arms supplies or exercises.

Suliman, A., Pannett, R., Jeong, A., Berger, M., Dixon, R., & Abbakumova, N. (2023, March 21). Live updates: XI and putin sign agreements as Japan's leader visits site of alleged Russian atrocities. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/21/russia-ukraine-war-latest-updates-putin-xi/