It is also being seen as a counter to US President Joe Biden‘s ‘surprise’ visit to Ukraine, bolstering its fightback
against Russia.
A prediction
In the meeting, Xi told Putin that he’s convinced the Russian president would have the support of his people in next year’s presidential election.
This comes against the backdrop of a drumbeat of allegations that China has been interfering with the electoral processes in several countries including the US.
Putin has ruled Russia since 2000 — four terms as its president, with an intervening four years as its prime minister.
Timing
Xi is the first leader to meet Putin since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on Friday.
This also comes a week after Xi brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two arch-rivals in West Asia. Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties — cut in 2016 — with Iran as a result.
Peace in Ukraine?
It’s not yet clear if Xi is in Moscow, with an aim at brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine.
But China had in February proposed a 12-point formula for a resolution of the Ukraine war.
In the meeting, Putin told Xi that he had viewed the proposals with respect and that he intended to discuss the same during his two-day Moscow visit.
Meanwhile
Russia has opened a criminal investigation against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan after the court issued an arrest warrant over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia during its year-old invasion of Ukraine.
And…
The US has announced $350 million in new military aid to Ukraine. It includes ammunition for Himars rocket launchers and Bradley armoured fighting vehicles, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying, “Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does, we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”