(CNN) Xi Jinping landed in Moscow for meetings with Vladimir Putin, the first time the Chinese leader has visited his neighbor and close strategic partner since Russia began its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Xi’s visit comes days after the International Criminal Court in The Hague accused Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Ukraine is expected to be a key point of discussion during Xi’s three-day visit, which will be closely watched for any potential impact on an entrenched conflict that has killed thousands and sparked a crisis in mass humanity.
Xi’s trip is likely to be seen in some Western capitals as a ringing endorsement of the Russian leader in the face of broad international condemnation of his war — unless the Chinese leader somehow can to deliver a concrete diplomatic breakthrough.
“One way or another, the subjects touched on [Beijing’s peace] plan, of course, will inevitably be touched during the exchange of views on Ukraine [between Putin and Xi]Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
“Of course, the full explanations will be given by President Putin, so [Chinese] President Xi Jinping will get a first-hand look at the current situation from the Russian side,” he added.
China billed the trip as a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace,” amid a push from Beijing to frame itself as a key player in resolving the conflict.
But Western leaders have expressed skepticism about China’s potential role as a peacemaker and its claimed neutrality. The United States and its allies have in turn warned since last month that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia for its war effort, which Beijing has denied.
On the table
Xi’s visit is expected to provide a platform for the two countries to further deepen their close strategic alignment, which includes diplomatic coordination, joint military training and robust trade.
In a statement released after Xi landed on Monday, the Chinese leader said: “In the face of a turbulent and changing world, China is ready to continue working with Russia to firmly protect the international order.”
Xi was met upon his arrival at Vnukovo airport near Moscow by Dmitry Chernyshenko, one of Russia’s 10 deputy prime ministers.
Putin and Xi both expressed the “new impetus” their meeting would bring to their bilateral relations in separate letters published by each other in national state-run media outlets ahead of the visit.
The two also used the letters to denounce “hegemony” — an allusion to their shared goal of pushing back against what they see as a US-led world order.
Xi should be careful during his visit to Moscow. At stake for the Chinese leader is whether he can strengthen ties with a partner China sees as crucial to countering perceived US dominance, while not alienating a Europe that is increasingly wary of the relationship. in China-Russia.
Putin launched his invasion days after he and Xi declared an “unlimited” partnership in February.
Since then China has claimed neutrality, but backed the Kremlin’s rhetoric blaming NATO for the conflict, refusing to condemn the invasion, and continuing to support Moscow financially by significantly increasing purchases of Russian fuel.
China has recently sought to change its image, positioning itself as a peacemaker and defending its relationship with Russia as good for global stability. Last month, Beijing released a vaguely worded position paper on a “political solution” to the conflict in Ukraine.
On Friday after announcing Xi’s trip to Moscow, the White House expressed concerns about potential proposals from China that would be “one-sided and only reflect Russia’s perspective.”
For example, a proposal for a ceasefire – which China has repeatedly requested – would only provide a way for Russia to regroup before launching a retaliation, said John Kirby, spokesman of the National Security Council.
Kyiv is also expected to closely monitor the proceedings, and reiterated on Monday that any plan for peace must begin with a Russian withdrawal.
Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, tweeted on Monday: “The formula for the successful implementation of China’s “Peace Plan”. in accordance with international law and the UN Charter…to encourage -restore sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously publicly expressed an interest in talking to Xi about the conflict, although communication between the two countries has not reached a high ministerial level in Ukraine since the war began.
Ukrainian, Chinese and US officials all declined last week to confirm a potential virtual meeting between Zelensky and Xi, after the Wall Street Journal reported that the two planned to speak for the first time after the potential Xi’s trip to Moscow.
Close relationship
In contrast, this week’s state visit marks the fortieth meeting between Putin and Xi since the Chinese leader took power in 2012.
The personal chemistry between the two authoritarian leaders is widely seen as a key driver of the strained relationship between the countries in recent years — and will also be closely examined during the visit. .
Past meetings between the leaders have put this relationship on full display, with photo-ops including Putin presenting Xi with ice cream on his 66th birthday during a meeting in 2019 in Tajikistan, and the two cooked Russian pancakes together on the side at a forum in Vladivostok in 2018.
The two last met in September at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, part of Xi’s first trip abroad after nearly three years of no travel during the pandemic.
Putin, who called Xi his “good old friend” in his letter published by Chinese state media on Monday, is expected to play up the country’s meeting as proof that Russia is not alone on the world stage.
But with the war in Ukraine coming to visit, it remains to be seen how much Xi will also seek to play with the optics.
The two leaders, however, have already set the stage for the meeting to increase bilateral cooperation.
During the visit they will “jointly adopt a new vision, a new blueprint and new measures for the growth of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming years.” ,” Xi wrote in his letter published Monday in Russian state media.
The meeting is expected to begin with a one-on-one meeting followed by an “informal lunch” Monday, with negotiations scheduled to take place on Tuesday, a Kremlin spokesman said last week.
CNN’s Anna Chernova contributed reporting