Russian President Vladimir Putin, extending his rule by six more years after an election with limited opposition, revealed plans on Thursday to embark on his first foreign trip since the re-election. Speaking at a congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow, Putin disclosed his intention to visit China in May, although specifics regarding the timing and agenda remained undisclosed.
Scheduled for May 7, Putin’s inauguration marks the commencement of his fifth term in office, further consolidating his nearly quarter-century-long tenure. Amid Russia’s escalating conflict with Ukraine, which has led to increased economic and diplomatic isolation, the nation has turned to China, its former rival during the Cold War era, for support and collaboration.
An assessment by the United States indicates a notable uptick in Chinese exports to Russia, encompassing machine tools, microelectronics, and other critical technologies utilized by Moscow in its military endeavors. Despite assertions from China that it is not providing direct military assistance to Russia, its robust economic ties with Moscow have underscored a strategic partnership, particularly amidst Western sanctions and condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
China has positioned itself as a purportedly neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, refraining from condemning Moscow’s actions and instead emphasizing an enduring friendship with Russia. In 2022, China declared its commitment to an unconditional friendship with Russia, denouncing Western sanctions and implicating NATO and the United States in provoking Putin’s actions.
Furthermore, China has proffered a peace proposal, albeit largely disregarded by Ukraine’s allies, who insist on the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory as a precondition for any negotiated settlement.
