Vladimir Putin has told Xi Jinping he understands China’s “questions and concerns” about the war in Ukraine, in a rare nod to tensions between the two states caused by the Russian invasion.
The remarks came as Xi and Putin met on Thursday for the first time since the start of the war, at a summit in Uzbekistan where the Russian president was expected to personally court the Chinese leader as an ally in their conflict with the West
The two leaders exchanged warm words in their opening remarks, with Xi calling Putin an “old friend” and Putin thanking the Chinese leader for his “balanced” stance on the invasion of Ukraine.
But it was Putin’s cryptic acknowledgment of Chinese “concerns” about the invasion that drew the most attention. In doing so, the Russian leader seemed particularly keen to curry favor with Xi, striking a conciliatory tone on an issue where he is often volatile and intransigent.
“We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin said. “We understand your questions and concerns about this. During today’s meeting, we will of course explain our position.”
China’s concerns are likely to be headed by the economic consequences of the invasion, including Russian threats of an all-out energy war against Europe. Although Putin and Xi had announced “no limits” in their partnership at a summit in February before the start of the war, China has avoided expressing public support for the invasion or providing military or economic aid that could incur in secondary sanctions.
As Russia faces setbacks on the battlefield and rising costs to its economy from sanctions, Putin may have sought to use the rare one-on-one meeting to secure an economic and diplomatic lifeline. The meeting was at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Xi’s first international trip since the pandemic began.
During the meeting, the two bonded over their mutual dislike of Washington, with Putin accusing the US of launching a “provocation” across the Taiwan Strait. He reiterated support for the “one China” policy, which denies Taiwan’s sovereignty
Xi responded, saying China was “willing to work with Russia to demonstrate the responsibility of major powers” and “instill stability and positive energy in a world of chaos.”
Putin explicitly backed China over Taiwan, which Beijing claims is a Chinese province it will take back by force if necessary.
China held blockade-style military exercises in Taiwan after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island last month. Taiwan’s government strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
A composition of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of the SCO leaders’ summit in Samarkand. Photograph: Alexandr Demyanchuk/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images
“We intend to firmly adhere to the ‘one China’ principle,” Putin said. “We condemn the provocations by the United States and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait.”
Fifteen heads of state were expected to meet at the SCO summit, with much of the Western media focusing on Xi and Putin.
The couple announced an open-ended partnership in February after meeting on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympics. A few weeks later, Russia invaded Ukraine. China’s government has struggled to balance its association with global condemnation of Russia and the breadth of sanctions imposed against Moscow in response. At various times it has presented itself as a neutral party, even a potential mediator, but signs of support for Russia have become clearer.
This week, Li Zhanshu, China’s third-highest-ranking official, met with Russian lawmakers and told them that China “fully understands and supports” Russia’s core interests and concerns. He explicitly blamed the United States and NATO for the conflict in Ukraine, a position he has maintained since the early days of the invasion, but added that China understood and supported Russia “taking the actions that have been to take,” according to a translation. by a monitoring group in China, the Great Translation Movement.
Behind the close Xi-Putin relationship, however, analysts have said the summit would likely see them jockeying for influence in Central Asia. The war in Ukraine and recent battlefield losses have weakened Russia’s position as a security guarantor in the region, they said, but it remains to be seen whether China will take up the role.
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Rather, Xi would likely seek to use China’s growing power to build trade routes through Central Asia, brace the country against sanctions if it attacks Taiwan, and secure support to defend its policies in Xinjiang. China has been accused of crimes against humanity in the region, which borders Kazakhstan, but denies wrongdoing.
A Taiwanese military service member watches as artillery strikes targets during combat training exercises in Pingtung County, Taiwan, this month. Photograph: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA
“In historical terms, China has been at its strongest whenever the global trading system has been land-based, not sea-based,” said Niva Yau, a senior researcher at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan, before the summit. “Whenever we see that China has significant problems with Taiwan, we see China turning to Central Asia.”
Before the summit began, Xi traveled to Kazakhstan and met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a key figure in Xi’s regional goals. On Thursday morning he also met with Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev greeted him on arrival.
According to official Chinese readings of the meetings, Xi frequently emphasized mutual national sovereignty and denounced “external interference,” an accusation Beijing often levels against Western nations critical of China’s domestic or international behavior.
The remarks also signaled a push for bigger bilateral deals on trade routes and infrastructure investments, including the Belt and Road Initiative launched by Xi in Kazakhstan in 2013, as well as resource deals.
Analysts said Kazakhstan was a key target in the region for China, with a relatively new president who came to power two years ago, after his predecessor ruled for nearly three decades. The timing of the SCO summit and China’s need for influence in Central Asia left Kazakhstan in a “privileged position to negotiate” with Beijing.
“In each of these deals with China they are getting more than other countries would get,” Yau said.
An itinerary released by India’s delegation said its Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet Putin, but Xi is not expected to meet Modi as the two governments struggle to negotiate bilateral disputes, including the withdrawal of military troops from disputed border areas.