Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese language President Xi Jinping pose for {a photograph} throughout their assembly in Beijing, on Feb. 4, 2022

Alexei Druzhinn/Sputnik/AFP by way of Getty Photos

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Alexei Druzhinn/Sputnik/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese language President Xi Jinping pose for {a photograph} throughout their assembly in Beijing, on Feb. 4, 2022

Alexei Druzhinn/Sputnik/AFP by way of Getty Photos

MOSCOW — Chinese language President Xi Jinping will head to Moscow for a three-day state go to with Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequent week during which talks are anticipated to focus closely on the conflict in Ukraine.

The announcement of the state go to — lengthy anticipated in press stories — was made concurrently in Moscow and Beijing on Friday.

A Kremlin assertion confused the private nature of the go to — asserting Xi would arrive “on the invitation” of the Russian chief to debate “problems with additional improvement of complete partnership and strategic interplay between Russia and China.”

The spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, mentioned the 2 leaders are anticipated to look earlier than reporters on Tuesday. Neither the Kremlin assertion nor Peskov made any point out of the conflict in Ukraine.

In line with the Kremlin’s spokesperson, talks get underway Monday afternoon with the majority of discussions to observe on Tuesday. Putin has eagerly sought China’s backing as relations with the West have collapsed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Xi’s state go to — his first since being re-elected to a 3rd time period in workplace — carries deep symbolism in a relationship that each nations final yr famously declared has “no limits.”

But China has sought to venture itself as impartial within the Ukraine battle — refusing to sentence Russia’s actions whereas stopping wanting offering navy help. Final month, Beijing unveiled a place paper on the Ukraine conflict; the proposal was dismissed in Washington.

In asserting Xi’s go to, Beijing mentioned the Chinese language chief will convey “an goal and honest place” dedicated to “selling peace and advancing negotiations” for peace talks. Unclear is how that squares with the Kremlin’s personal insistence its goals in Ukraine can solely be achieved by navy means.