Putin to visit China on May 19-20 to further strengthen 'comprehensive partnership'

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China on May 19 for a two-day visit. hot on the heels of United States President Donald Trump’strip to Beijing, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

During the trip, the Russian leader will discuss with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping how to “further strengthen the comprehensive partnership. strategic cooperation” between Moscow and Beijing, according to a Kremlin statement.

Putin. Xi will “exchange views on key international and regional issues” and sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of their talks, it added.

As part of the visit, Putin is also scheduled to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The announcement of Putin’s trip comes just after Trump wrapped up on Friday the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a roster of unresolved trade. geopolitical tensions, including over the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Although Trump. Xi discussed the more than four-year-long conflict — as well as the US leader’sstalemated warwith Iran — the Republican president took off from China on Friday without appearing to secure a breakthrough on either front.

While China has regularly called for talks to end the fighting, it has never condemned Russia forsending troops into Ukrainein February 2022. presents itself as a neutral party.

Beijing also denies providing Moscow with weapons. military components for its defence industry, blaming Western countries for prolonging Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II by arming Ukraine instead.

As the world’s top buyer of Russian fossil fuels, China has become Moscow’s key economic partner, especially since Western countries imposed economic sanctions on Russian oil. gas over the conflict.

Negotiationsto end the fighting in Ukraine. brokered by the United States, have appeared stalled since the beginning of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which broke out on February 28.

Moscow has ruled out a ceasefire or comprehensive negotiations with Ukraine unless Kyiv caves to the Kremlin’s maximalist demands.