Putin in Beijing: China supports Russia against NATO

Russia’s President has traveled to the Winter Games. In the joint discussion, China’s President Xi supported Russian demands for security guarantees. Both countries demand an end to NATO’s eastward expansion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing just in time for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. At a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin stressed that relations between the two countries were developing “in the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership.”

The Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV had previously quoted Putin as saying that he had known Xi for a long time. “As good friends and politicians who share many common views on solving world problems, we have always maintained close communication.”

Peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis

In the conversation, Xi supported Russia’s demands in the Ukraine conflict. China is committed to a peaceful solution in Ukraine. However, Russia’s security interests should be safeguarded.

The United States announced on Wednesday that it would transfer 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania. France also sends troops to Romania. In addition, 2,000 forces from the 82nd Division are to be relocated to Germany and Poland.

Scholz travels to Kiev and Moscow

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to travel to Moscow and Kiev next week to de-escalate the situation in the Ukraine crisis. A face-to-face meeting with Putin is planned for Monday, and he will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also wants to mediate locally in the conflict over Ukraine: on February 14 he will travel to Kiev, and a meeting with Putin in Moscow is planned for February 15. A meeting between Macron, Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda is also planned in Berlin. Both Germany and France have been mediating in the conflict for years.

Xi and Putin both oppose NATO’s eastward expansion and have signed a joint statement “reflecting the common views of Russia and China on important global issues, including security issues,” the Kremlin said. They are “deeply concerned” about international security.

AUKUS pact also condemned

“No state could or should ensure its security in isolation from global security and at the expense of the security of other states,” the statement said. NATO should abandon “the ideological approaches of the Cold War era” and respect “the sovereignty, security and interests of other countries”.

The two countries also condemn the AUKUS Pact. The USA, Australia and Great Britain signed the trilateral military alliance last autumn.

China imports a lot of natural gas from Russia

Putin also announced that he would supply more natural gas to China. There should be a supply contract for ten billion cubic meters per year. Deliveries of hydrocarbons are also under discussion.

China is increasingly buying gas in Russia and says it imports more energy and raw materials from Russia than from any other country.

First meeting since the pandemic began

It is the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Xi since the beginning of the corona pandemic. The two heads of state then want to take part in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games together.

Several countries, including the US, UK and Canada, are boycotting the games in protest at China’s human rights record.