Are Xi and Putin still ‘best friends’?
Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin to Beijing with pomp and pageantry, just days after hosting Donald Trump. But as Russia’s war in Ukraine makes Moscow increasingly dependent on China, and western leaders thaw relations with Beijing, what does the power imbalance mean for Xi and Putin’s relationship? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy head of international news, Devika Bhat
TL;DR
- Xi Jinping hosted Vladimir Putin in Beijing with grand ceremony.
- This meeting occurred shortly after hosting Donald Trump.
- Russia's war in Ukraine has increased its reliance on China.
- Western leaders are improving relations with Beijing.
- The article questions the current power dynamics between Xi and Putin.