A slap in the face of the West

It was a welcome with drums and trumpets. Xi Jinping walked the red carpet at Moscow airport on Monday and was solemnly welcomed by a chapel. Even before his arrival, the Chinese president made the front pages of many Russian newspapers. For the Kremlin, Xi’s visit is an important symbol. A few days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, the Russian president now wants to show the world one thing: I am not internationally isolated.

Putin and Xi are getting closer, as appeared on Monday in the first hours of the three-day meeting between the two presidents in the Kremlin.

Prior to his invasion of Ukraine, Putin sat Western leaders at an absurdly large table during talks in Moscow to illustrate the divide between Russia and the West. When Xi came to visit, the choice of table fell on a piece of furniture smaller than the chairs of the two presidents.

A symbol of solidarity between Russia and China.

But that’s not all: China also seems to be gradually giving up its restraint in the Ukraine conflict. In Russia, Xi not only emphasized the “close cooperation” between him and the president, who is currently attacking a neighboring country.

China and Russia are pursuing “similar goals,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said at Monday’s meeting in Moscow. “We have worked for the prosperity of our respective countries. We can work together to achieve our goals.” The Chinese president is mainly talking about economic ties – trade between China and Russia has increased by more than 30 percent, not least because of Western sanctions against Russia.

But the Chinese leadership is also concerned about the conflict with the US and the attack on the Western-dominated world order. The trade war between the People’s Republic and the United States has recently gained momentum again. Xi is also counting on Putin in the conflict with the Americans, because both powers do not really have much international support.

But what exactly the two presidents will decide in Moscow is unclear. According to the Kremlin, the signing of two major agreements is planned to expand “comprehensive partnership” and “strategic cooperation”. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will also attend the meeting. According to the Kremlin, issues of military-technical cooperation are also on the agenda.

First of all, Xi’s visit should be seen as a demonstration of unity. Putin has been in power for 23 years, Xi for 10 years. Both presidents often met, they cooked together, drank vodka. Both reject democracy as a form of government and want a new world order. your relationship is good. To Xi, Putin is predictable, and that means a lot to the Chinese president. Worth more than a quick end to the war in Ukraine, which Xi could end immediately if he wanted to by putting pressure on Putin. But he doesn’t want to.

Putin, on the other hand, has little choice. He has to act tactically with China, even though a large part of the Russian population distrusts the up-and-coming neighbour. Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine has left Russia dependent on China. Both are also pursuing a common goal in Ukraine: Xi absolutely does not want Putin to lose. Political chaos in Moscow would pose a security risk to Beijing, and Xi doesn’t need a pro-Western president in the Kremlin. That would further isolate China.

“I know there will be presidential elections in Russia next year,” Xi said. “Russia’s development has improved significantly under your strong leadership. I believe that the Russian people will continue to give you their strong support.” The Chinese president gives the Russian people an election recommendation – for the man who is currently waging a war of aggression.

However, this statement posed problems for the Kremlin, because Putin actually did not want to participate in the next elections. The Kremlin was therefore quick to dismiss Xi’s claim that the 70-year-old was running for election. “President Xi has not said that Putin will participate in the elections. Chairman Xi has expressed the belief that the Russians support Putin, and here one can only share his belief,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. It was clearly a difficult situation for the Russian leadership.

China’s support and campaign support for Putin has particularly disapproved of many states in Europe. Also Germany. Because of China’s economic dependence, there is fervent hope that Beijing will stay out of the war as much as possible.

And Putin? First of all, the Russian president is happy that the head of state of a great power has strayed to Russia. Therefore, he seduces Xi with words that fit perfectly into the political picture that Chinese propaganda likes and often paints.

“In recent years, China has made a huge leap forward. It arouses interest and, unfortunately, envy all over the world,” Putin said. Putin thus serves the Chinese story: the West wants to prevent China’s well-deserved rise.

The question will be whether the meeting between Xi and Putin is more than symbolic politics. Of course, Ukraine is also at the center of the talks. In February, China published a position paper calling for dialogue and respect for the territorial sovereignty of all countries. During the meeting with Xi, Putin was open to China’s proposals to end the conflict. Moscow is “always open to negotiations,” Putin said. “All these questions” would “definitely be discussed, including the Chinese initiative.”

But so far there have been no negotiations, as Putin sticks to his war goals and does not want to give up the captured Ukrainian territory. While the US fears that Russia and China will propose a ceasefire to continue Russian conquests, Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius at least hopes Xi can bring his Russian counterpart to the negotiating table.

It remains to be seen whether this will work. The start of the multi-day meeting between Xi and Putin shows an image of two presidents drawing closer together. It is a warning to the West, which already fears that China could also support Russia with arms. Putin and Xi are also likely to discuss this over dinner on Monday night. The menu includes a six-course meal with white salmon or reindeer as the main course. Friendship goes through the stomach. Putin probably knows that too.