China’s president to visit Russia in apparent show of support for Putin

China has announced that President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday. The move comes in an apparent show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he faces global pressure to end his invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin confirmed the visit, saying it would take place “at the invitation of Vladimir Putin”.

Xi and Putin will discuss “issues of further development of the comprehensive partnership and strategic dialogue between Russia and China,” the Kremlin said.

The Russian government said the meeting would help deepen “Russian-Chinese cooperation in the international arena”.

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China’s President Xi Jinping claps as he listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin via a video link in Beijing on December 2, 2019. (Sergey Boblev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP / Noel Selis / Pool Photo via AP)

The statement said the two leaders would also sign “important bilateral documents”.

China has remained determined to act in its own interest, while much of the world has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which last month marked one year.

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Xi has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion but has called for a peaceful solution. China has also called on the international community to recognize and respect the sovereignty of Russia’s rule over its territory, including parts of Ukraine claimed by Russia.

This photo taken on September 11, 2022 shows a Ukrainian soldier standing on top of an abandoned Russian tank near a village on the outskirts of Izyum, Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing has repeatedly criticized the US and NATO for provoking Russia.

Putin invited Xi to visit Russia in late December.

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Putin said the visit could “demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russian-Chinese relations” and “become the main political event of the year in bilateral relations.”

Black smoke rises from a military air base in Chuguyev, near Kharkiv, on February 24, 2022. (Eris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang phoned his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday, saying that China has “always maintained an objective and fair stance on the Ukraine issue, promoting peace and carrying forward dialogue and promoting international has committed itself to the calling to create community.” terms of peace talks.”

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After meeting Putin, President Xi wants to talk to President Zelensky of Ukraine.

The call would be the first time Zelensky and Xi have spoken since Putin first invaded Ukraine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.