- Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi held a face-to-face meeting on Thursday in Uzbekistan.
- Putin acknowledged during the meeting that China has “questions and concerns” on Ukraine.
- Russian forces have suffered significant battlefield defeats in Ukraine in recent weeks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Thursday that even China has concerns about the war in Ukraine, as the disastrous conflict he initiated earlier this year continues to create problems for Moscow, including leaving Russia increasingly isolated.
“We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in Uzbekistan, according to media reports.
“We understand your questions and concerns in this regard,” he continued. “During today’s meeting, of course, we will explain in detail our position on this issue, although we have spoken about this before.”
China has largely been hesitant to offer its full support to Russia’s invasion, despite their close partnership as both countries face pressure from the West over actions considered alarming, specifically Russian aggression in Europe and Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua cited Xi telling Putin that his country was “ready to work with Russia in extending strong support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.”
The meeting between the two authoritarian leaders comes as they face growing tensions with Western countries — Putin for his unprovoked war in Ukraine and Xi for stepping up threats against the self-ruled democratic island Taiwan.
For Putin, Russia’s increasing isolation throughout the war, driven in part by global condemnation and international sanctions, has forced the country to seek partnership with other states that often face pressure from the global community, like Iran and North Korea.
Russia has deployed Iran-made drones on the battlefield in Ukraine while also approaching North Korea seeking ammunition. US officials said earlier this month that Putin’s hunt for supplies from these countries is a sign of desperation and that his troops are struggling in the conflict.
Putin’s remarks to Xi on Thursday come as his forces have been routed by a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the country’s northeastern Kharkiv region.
Ukraine’s advances have sent Russian troops scrambling from their positions and seen Ukrainian forces liberate thousands of square miles of territory that were previously under the occupation of Putin’s forces.
“Events show that the only way out for Russian soldiers is to surrender to Ukrainian forces. This is the only option that guarantees them life and attitude in accordance with all conventions,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday after returning from a visit to a newly liberated front-line city.
“Every Russian soldier should have already understood that only in Ukrainian captivity will no one use him as cannon fodder in a war that is obviously losing for Russia,” he said.
