The key question gathering global interest is whether any outcome of the Putin-Xi meeting will produce an outcome on the war in Ukraine
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow about the war in Ukraine are being viewed with suspicion by the West, with Washington saying the visit provides “diplomatic cover” for Moscow.
Xi’s first day in Russia was a carefully staged performance that included a photo and lunch with his “dear friend,” Vladimir Putin.
Today, the second day of the visit, the two leaders are preparing to get to work, CNN notes.
The key question gathering global interest is whether any outcome of the meeting will affect the conflict in Ukraine.
China in recent weeks has sought to present itself as the would-be peace broker, calling for a ceasefire and peace talks in a vaguely worded document released last month.
Putin said on Monday that Russia had “carefully studied” China’s proposals and promised “an opportunity to discuss this issue”.
However, there has been much skepticism about China’s position on resolving the conflict, centered on concerns that nothing Beijing has proposed so far reflects Ukraine’s demand that all Russian troops be withdrawn from its territory.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken criticized Xi’s visit on Monday, noting that it came just days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
“China feels no responsibility to hold Russia accountable for atrocities in Ukraine, and rather than condemn them, would prefer to provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue committing these crimes,” Washington’s top diplomat said. .
Any call for a ceasefire “that does not include the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively support the validation of the Russian conquest” as it “would allow President Putin to take a breather and regroup his forces and then start again the war” he added.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on Twitter that the “successful implementation” of a Chinese “peace plan” must begin with the “capitulation or withdrawal” of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
Source :Skai
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