Headline Roundup • March 22nd, 2023
Putin and Xi Conclude Talks In Moscow, Drawing Western Criticism
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow this week, drawing criticism from the West.
The Details: The two leaders met this week in the Russian capital amid what Putin says are historically high levels of Russian-Chinese relations. The two promoted a multipolar world, and discussed concerns over NATOâs support of Ukraine, and Asia-Pacific countries. The two also agreed to build stronger economic ties, especially in energy. Xi also invited Putin to visit Beijing later this year.
For Context: The visit comes about a month after China proposed a 12-point peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine, a document that was scrutinized by the West. Just last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Putinâs arrest over the evacuation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Western Criticism: U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, dismissed Xiâs visit as providing "diplomatic cover" for the "atrocities" that Russia is committing in Ukraine. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called the meeting a âthree-day bro-fest celebrating authoritarian powerâ.
How The Media Covered It: Many media outlets highlighted that the leaders referred to each other as âdear friendsâ, and that Moscow is realistically the junior partner to Beijing in such a partnership.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo
Russia on Wednesday is criticizing the Westâs reaction to Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting Moscow as being "deeply hostile."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remark as Xi ended his three-day state visit to the country, which included meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the signing of an agreement to expand economic ties.
"Undoubtedly, the most important thing is not the Westâs reaction after all, but the results of these talks that have taken place. The main thing is the results of the state visit itself," Peskov said, according to the state-owned...
Bonnie Cash/Pool Photo via AP
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) blasted Chinese leader Xi Jinpingâs visit to Russia for âcelebrating authoritarian powerâ on Tuesday.
âThis was a three day bro-fest celebrating authoritarian power,â he said on âCNN This Morning.â
Merkley, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that China and Russia are âvery comfortableâ together and want to âflex their musclesâ to the world. He said that the two countries have formed an âauthoritarian bloc,â which is a âthreat to freedom everywhere.â
âYou have a China, which didnât hesitate to run over the top of Hong Kong,â he...
Grigory Sysoyev/AFP/SPUTNIK/Getty Images
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made a sweeping affirmation of their alignment across a host of issues â and shared mistrust of the United States â in a lengthy statement following talks between the two leaders in Moscow this week.
Their meeting, which took place under the shadow of Russiaâs onslaught in Ukraine, left no question about Beijingâs commitment to developing its rapport with Moscow, despite Putinâs growing isolation on the global stage as its devastating war continues into its second year.
AllSides Picks
Red Blue Translator
U.S.S.R.
Headline Roundup
Ramaswamy Attack Ad in Ohio Faces Republican Criticism
October 21st, 2026
_2.webp)
Headline Roundup
California Faces Additional $1.2 Billion Medicaid Funding Freeze Amid Fraud Allegations
October 21st, 2026
.jpg)
Blog
What Does America Look Like From Main Street?
Guest Writer
October 19th, 2026
