After two days of talks, the presidents of China, Xi Jinping, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, left this Tuesday (21) with warm words of friendship between the two countries and joint criticism of the West, but no sign of progress. diplomatic over the war in Ukraine.
Xi’s visit to Moscow – long hailed by the Kremlin as a show of support for its most powerful friend – saw many mutual outpourings of sympathy. The two leaders referred to each other as dear friends, promised economic cooperation and described their countries’ relations as the best they’ve ever had.
A joint statement included familiar accusations against the West – such as Washington undermining global stability and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) encroaching on the Asia-Pacific region.
On Ukraine, Putin praised Xi for a peace plan proposed last month and blamed Kiev and the West for rejecting it.
“We believe that many of the provisions of the peace plan presented by China are in line with Russian approaches, and can be taken as a basis for a peaceful settlement when they are ready for it in the West and in Kiev. However, so far we do not see such readiness on their part,” Putin said.
But Xi barely mentioned the conflict, saying China had an “impartial position” on the war.
The summit, Putin’s biggest show of diplomacy since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine a year ago, was partially overshadowed in Kiev, where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida paid an unannounced visit and met with the Ukrainian president. , Volodymyr Zelensky.
The latest world leader to make the journey to show solidarity with Ukraine, Kishida visited Bucha, on the outskirts of the capital Kiev, left littered with dead last year after the withdrawal of Russian troops. He laid a wreath in a church before observing a moment of silence and reverence.
“The world was stunned to see innocent civilians in Bucha killed a year ago. I really feel a great anger at the atrocity when visiting this very place here,” said Kishida.
Washington denounced the timing of Xi’s visit to Moscow, which came just three days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the visit at such a time amounted to giving Putin “diplomatic cover” for the atrocities. Moscow denies illegally deporting the children, and says it has taken them in for protection.
Putin and Xi signed an agreement for a “no boundaries” partnership last year, just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. Beijing has since refused to blame Moscow for the war, and has condemned Western sanctions on Russia, even as China has profited by granting discounts on oil and gas that Russia no longer sells to Europe.
Source: CNN Brasil
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