Xi Jinping-Putin ‘first meeting’ after Ukraine war… China-Russia strengthens anti-US unity

On the occasion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met late on the afternoon of the 15th (local time). The two leaders publicly declared their support for the de facto position of the other side in relation to the wars in Taiwan and Ukraine, reaffirming their will to strengthen strategic cooperation between the two great powers.

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of China and Russia since the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in early February, and the first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Xi Jinping-Putin “Strengthen strategic cooperation… Expand cooperation in energy, etc.”

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 15th, President Xi and Putin held separate bilateral talks on the occasion of the SCO Summit that opened in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the afternoon and exchanged views on Sino-Russian and international relations. . and regional issues.

In his remarks released to the press on the same day, President Xi said, “This year, China and Russia have maintained effective strategic communication. He added, “China wants to play the role of a great power together with Russia in the world, the changing era and history, and play a leading role in injecting stability and positive energy in a world of chaos.”

Xi also emphasized that China and Russia want to strongly support each other on issues where each other’s core interests are at stake, and to strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as trade and agriculture.

Initially, the issue of Ukraine and Taiwan was expected to be the main topic of discussion at the meeting, but Xi did not directly discuss the issue of Ukraine that day. However, by declaring that Xi supports issues that are at stake in each other’s ‘core interests’, he suggested that he would draw a line on sanctions and criticism against Russia and indirectly support Russia’s position on the Ukraine issue.

Instead, President Putin spoke for China in relation to the Ukraine war. “Russia appreciates China’s balanced view of the Ukraine crisis,” he said. “We understand China’s questions and concerns.” This is thought to be aware of China’s economic concerns regarding the protracted war.

The two leaders also talked about the Taiwan issue. “(We) firmly adhere to the ‘one China’ principle,” Putin said. Putin also described the actions of the US and its allies against Taiwan as a “provocation”.

Xi also responded, saying, “I strongly oppose the separatist forces that promote Taiwan independence and foreign interference.”

At the summit, the two leaders made clear their intention to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as energy, economy, and trade to strengthen anti-US unity, but did not directly mention cooperation in the military and security fields which could increase sanctions’ r Western and cheques.

In addition, China appeared to refrain from sending messages that could raise the vigilance of the West, including the United States. In the press release on the results of the negotiations on the Chinese side, released through Chinese state media such as Xinhua, President Putin made the United States anonymous as an ‘individual country’ while introducing a piece where President Putin condemned the The United States in all its comments, and also includes a voice against ‘opposition to sanctions’.

The two sides did not issue a separate joint statement after the meeting. The reason for this appears to be that China’s position when considering relations with the United States and the European Union (EU) has been mirrored.

The US imposes additional sanctions on Russia on the day Xi Jinping and Putin met

After China and Russia moved closer together, the US government imposed additional sanctions. It was aimed at Russian companies that defied financial sanctions on the day Xi and Putin met, and Russian officials who violated human rights.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added to the list of 22 individuals and two organizations and individuals who helped evade international financial sanctions imposed after the Russia-Ukraine war. The list of sanctions is reported to include a number of related figures, including Vladimir Valerievich Komlev, the CEO of the National Payment System (NSPK), which is being used as a way to avoid financial penalties imposed on Russia.

The US Treasury Department said the move “is in line with the Commerce Department’s additional export controls to Russia and State Department actions targeting Russia’s defense and high-tech industries.” This expands export sanctions, including a ban on providing quantum computing services to any individual located in Russia.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that she would continue to take “strong action” to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes.