Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China on 19–20 May was not merely another bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Its main purpose was to demonstrate that, following the high-profile visit by US President Donald Trump, Beijing is not changing its strategic course and is unwilling to sacrifice its partnership with Moscow for a deal with Washington. Whatever Beijing may actually think about this, Moscow clearly enjoys showcasing its importance and rarely misses an opportunity to do so.
22 May 2026-10:17
