Putin and Xi’s talks come at a time when Moscow is facing tensions with the West over a Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border. In recent weeks, Western nations have engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a possible invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied plans to attack its neighbor.
Meanwhile, Putin has sought guarantees that NATO will not expand into Ukraine and will not deploy its troops or weapons there.
Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said he (Putin) told Xi on Wednesday “about the growing threats to Russia’s national interests from the US and NATO, which continue to bring its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.” are.”
According to Ushakov, the Russian leader stressed the need to negotiate with NATO and the US on legally binding security guarantees.
Ushakov said Xi responded by saying that he “understands Russia’s concerns and fully supports our initiative to fulfill these security guarantees for Russia.”
He said Moscow’s proposals have been conveyed to US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried. He said Donfrid visited Moscow on Wednesday and met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
In recent years, China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to counter US domination of the international economic and political system. Both have faced sanctions over their internal policies.
China has faced sanctions for its crackdown on minorities, particularly Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, and its crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Russia, meanwhile, has faced international sanctions for occupying Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and for poisoning and imprisoning opposition leader Alexei Navelny.
Beijing and Washington also face off on trade, technology and China’s military threat to Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as its territory.
AP
Prashant Pawanesh
Pawanesh
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