The presidents of Russia Vladimir Putinand Chinese, Xi Jinpingbegan their “informal meeting” in Moscow on Monday with the Chinese peace initiative for the war in Ukraine as the main attraction to be discussed.
The two leaders, sitting next to each other in the Kremlin, according to the images broadcast by Russian public television, will celebrate first a meeting “face to face” and then continue their meeting with a dinnerin which it has transpired that sturgeon soup and roast pork will be served.
At the beginning of the aforementioned meeting, Putin welcomed his Chinese counterpart and congratulated him on his re-election as Chinese president. “I am sure that under your leadership China will take further steps in its development and will achieve the goals it has set itself,” the Russian president stressed.
[El plan de paz de China en Ucrania: alto el fuego, fin de las sanciones a Rusia y respeto a la soberanía]
After that, he added that Russia and China “have many joint tasks and objectives”, in addition to appreciating the “great attention that Xi pays to the development of Russian-Chinese relations. Putin also considered that Beijing always adopts a” fair and balanced position before the most pressing international problems”.
The leader of the Russian Executive explained to Xi that he will address the Chinese peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. “We have carefully studied your proposals to resolve the serious crisis in Ukraine,” she said. “Of course, we will have the opportunity to discuss this,” she stressed.
Xi and Putin meet in Moscowpic.twitter.com/H0TLbBAHlI
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“We know that you come from the principles of justice and observance of the fundamental provisions of international law,” he added.
China has maintained an ambiguous stance, defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity on the one hand and advocating taking Russia’s security concerns into account on the other.
[Xi Jinping se reúne con Putin en Moscú para reforzar su alianza en plena guerra de Ucrania]
China’s peace initiative has been welcomed in Russia with nuances, because respecting territorial integrity would mean return the occupied territories to Ukrainewhile in kyiv he considers that the Chinese plan lacks logic and is full of contradictions, because the interests of the aggressor country cannot be taken into account, reports efe.
Putin stressed that, in general, the interaction of Russia and China in the international arena “of course contributes to strengthening the fundamental principles of world order and multipolarity.” The Russian president further stated that the two countries have many issues to discuss in the field of economic cooperation.
[Putin viaja a Crimea para conmemorar el noveno aniversario de la anexión de la península a Rusia]
“Tomorrow we will be able to talk about this with the participation of our partners and colleagues” in a meeting in an expanded format with the respective delegations, he explained. Xi in turn was “very pleased” by the invitation to Russia, especially immediately after his re-election.
The Chinese president, who called “Dear friendDuring his opening remarks, Putin stressed that China “highly values relations with Russia” as they have historical logic” as the biggest neighbors and strategic partners, he said.
Xi further stressed that Russia, under Putin’s leadership, has achieved “significant achievements“. “Next year you will hold (presidential) elections. I am sure the Russian people will support him,” Xi told his host.