As Moscow’s international isolation deepened, the Russian and Chinese presidents met at the Kremlin to exchange compliments on March 20.
It’s an opportunity, they say, to strengthen their “no-limits friendship” and push back against what they see as Washington’s attempt to isolate them and slow their development.
Since Putin is wanted for arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes, his meetings with Xi provide a rare opportunity for him to make the case that Russia is not completely isolated from the rest of the world.
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council in the White House, recently told reporters in Washington that it appears that Xi and Putin are connected in “a bit of a marriage of convenience” rather than one of love. Additionally, he stated that the White House continues to be concerned that China could provide lethal weapons to Russia.
The visit comes just weeks after China proposed a political settlement in Ukraine, in which it blamed the West for the invasion. As part of their plan, the Chinese government proposed a ceasefire and negotiations to end the conflict.