Chinese leader Xi Jinping has left Moscow, wrapping up a three-day visit, shortly after Japanese PM Fumio Kishida left Kyiv.
Kishida made a surprise visit Tuesday to Kyiv, stealing some of the attention from Xi visited Moscow where he promoted Beijing’s peace proposal for Ukraine, which Western nations have already dismissed.
Xi’s visit gave a strong political boost to Russian President Vladimir Putin just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine.
After the talks, Putin and Xi issued joint declarations pledging to further bolster their “strategic cooperation,” develop cooperation in energy, high-tech industries, and other spheres and expand the use of their currencies in mutual trade to reduce dependence on the West.
They said they would develop military cooperation and conduct more joint sea and air patrols. But there was no mention of Chinese weapon supplies to Russia, a prospect that the U.S. and other Western allies feared.
Last month, China put forward a 12-point peace plan for dealing with the war.
The paper largely reiterated Beijing’s talking points on the Ukraine war. With calls for dialogue, respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty, and an end to economic sanctions. It urged all parties to avoid nuclear escalation but critically did not suggest Russia withdraw its forces.
On Monday, US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, voiced skepticism over China’s “peace” proposals. Warning that they could be a “stalling tactic” to help Russian troops on the ground in Ukraine.
“The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia. Supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its terms.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will pay a surprise visit to Ukraine on Tuesday. Expressed “solidarity and unwavering support
