Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China in May to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be Putin’s first foreign trip after his new term as Russian president. Five sources familiar with the matter reported this information. British news agency Reuters reported this news on Tuesday (March 19).
Western leaders condemned Putin’s re-election on Monday as unfair and undemocratic. But China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran leader for extending his rule for another six years.
The backlash over Putin’s victory points to the geopolitical rift that widened when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began two years ago. The war triggered the deepest crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the end of the Cold War.
“Putin will visit China,” a source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The information provided by him was confirmed by Reuters in detail and independently through four other sources. They also gave this information on condition of anonymity.
Another source among them said that Putin’s visit to China will probably be in the second half of May. Putin will visit China ahead of Xi Jinping’s planned trip to Europe, two sources said.
Asked about this, the Russian press office told Reuters that information about Putin’s visit would be released in due course.
“Several presidential visits and high-level contacts are currently being prepared,” Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. When the time is right we will let you know.’
Reuters did not immediately receive a response to a request for comment from China’s foreign ministry.
In February 2022, Putin visited Beijing days before the invasion of Ukraine. China then declared an ‘unlimited’ partnership with Russia. On Monday, the country announced it would maintain close contact with Russia to promote that partnership.
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