Advertisement
A ‘wasted trip’ or ‘good news’? Chinese President Xi Jinping heads home after Russia visit
- Beijing’s unwillingness to openly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains a stumbling block in the West to Chinese proposals to end the conflict
- Ahead of his own visit to China, Brazilian president welcomes Xi’s contribution
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
99+
President Xi Jinping’s trip to Russia has been criticised in the West as a show of support for Russia over the war in Ukraine but there was cautious optimism elsewhere that China could help end the conflict.
Advertisement
Xi returned to Beijing on Wednesday, a day after a series of formal talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Beijing had presented the trip as a peace mission and itself as a neutral party in the conflict in Ukraine.
But White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said China’s oil imports from its neighbour and its failure to criticise Russia were signs of partiality.
“I don’t think you can reasonably look at China as impartial in any way,” Kirby said.
Advertisement
“[Xi] and his regime [keep] parroting the Russian propaganda that this is somehow the war of the West on Russia, that it’s some sort of existential threat to Mr Putin. That’s just a bunch of malarkey.”
03:41
Xi and Putin deepen China-Russia partnership in Moscow talks, but no Ukraine peace deal details
Xi and Putin deepen China-Russia partnership in Moscow talks, but no Ukraine peace deal details
Advertisement