Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Harbin, a Chinese city known for its significant Russian population. He is attending a China-Russia trade fair today to emphasize the robust economic ties between the two nations. This visit follows a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where both leaders praised their deepening relationship.
Putin mentioned that their discussions also included the situation in Ukraine, with both leaders expressing a desire for a “political resolution” to the conflict. This trip marks Putin’s first international visit since beginning his fifth presidential term, following an election in which he faced virtually no opposition.
Russia has increasingly turned to China for support amid extensive sanctions from the US and its Western allies, which aim to weaken Moscow’s military capabilities. Although Beijing has been accused of aiding Russia’s war effort by providing technology and components, China maintains that these supplies are non-lethal and have commercial applications.
During the second day of his visit, Putin is in Harbin, the capital of China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia. Speaking at an industry forum, Putin highlighted the “inseparable” partnership between the two countries as a guarantor of energy security. He also laid flowers at a memorial for Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of northeast China from Japanese forces in the 1940s.
Before his fourth meeting with Xi since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin stated he would brief Xi on “the situation around the Ukrainian crisis.” Xi reiterated that both nations agree on the need for a “political solution” to the war, though details were not provided. China’s previous peace proposals have faced criticism from both Kyiv and Western allies.