Putin and Xi Conclude Talks In Moscow, Drawing Western Criticism
AllSides Summary
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 NATO’s 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 Putin’s arrest over the evacuation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Western Criticism: U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, dismissed Xi’s visit as providing "diplomatic cover" for the "atrocities" that Russia is committing in Ukraine. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called the meeting a “three-day bro-fest celebrating authoritarian power”.
How The Media Covered It: Many media outlets highlighted that the leaders referred to each other as “dear friends”, and that Moscow is realistically the junior partner to Beijing in such a partnership.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Russia criticizes West's reaction to Xi Jinping's visit as 'deeply hostile'
Russia on Wednesday is criticizing the West’s 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 West’s 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...
From the Center
Senate Democrat calls Xi-Putin summit a ‘three-day bro-fest celebrating authoritarian power’
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) blasted Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia for “celebrating authoritarian power” on Tuesday.
“This was a three day bro-fest celebrating authoritarian power,” he said on “CNN This Morning.”
Merkley, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that China and Russia are “very comfortable” together and want to “flex their muscles” to the world. He said that the two countries have formed an “authoritarian bloc,” which is a “threat to freedom everywhere.”
“You have a China, which didn’t hesitate to run over the top of Hong Kong,” he...
From the Left
No path to peace: Five key takeaways from Xi and Putin’s talks in Moscow
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made a sweeping affirmation of their alignment across a host of issues – and shared mistrust of the United States – in a lengthy statement following talks between the two leaders in Moscow this week.
Their meeting, which took place under the shadow of Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine, left no question about Beijing’s commitment to developing its rapport with Moscow, despite Putin’s growing isolation on the global stage as its devastating war continues into its second year.
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