Putin tells Xi he understands China’s ‘questions and concerns’ over Ukraine

The Guardian ^ | 15 September 2022 | Helen Davidson, Andrew Roth

[Cronos]

Russian leader seems keen to curry favour with Chinese president as battlefield setbacks and sanctions bite

Vladimir Putin has told Xi Jinping that he understands China’s “questions and concerns” about the war in Ukraine, in a rare nod to tensions between the two states caused by the Russian invasion.

The remarks came as Xi and Putin met on Thursday for the first time since the war began, at a summit in Uzbekistan where the Russian president was expected to court the Chinese leader personally as an ally in his conflict with the west.

invasion that drew the most attention. In doing so, the Russian leader seemed especially keen to curry favour with Xi, striking a conciliatory tone on a topic where he is often volatile and uncompromising.

“We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin said. “We understand your questions and concerns about this. During today’s meeting, we will of course explain our position.”

China’s concerns are probably headed by the economic fallout from the invasion, including Russian threats of an all-out energy war against Europe. While Putin and Xi had announced “no limits” in their partnership at a summit in February before the war began, China has avoided voicing public support for the invasion or of providing military or economic aid that could incur secondary sanctions.

[Cronos]

It is now clear that Putin has made Russia into a vassal state to China, and that he has to kowtow to Xi

[DannyTN]

Sum Ting Wong

[rfp1234]

As long as the Big Guy gets his 10%...

[DannyTN]

Confusius say: Yu Weak Sauce

[canuck_conservative]

Questions ... like “why are you getting your ass kicked by a country 1/20th your size”?

[allendale]

The only questions and concerns Comrade Xi has is will Russia risk using nuclear weapons to defend their Asian Pacific territories and Siberia. It is clear to everyone that they do not have the conventional military power needed to defend them.

[hardspunned]

I don’t believe Putin enjoys being Xi’s puppet but we’ve left him no other option. Oil and natural gas, at a discount, will pay for the latest Chinese military tech and steel for tanks to replace the Warsaw Pact junk lost so far. You know, Ukraine and EU NATO don’t have gas and oil to swap for our military tech and materiel. Our “allies” just put it on their tab with us. We just charge it to our grandkids’ account.

[Vaquero]

I don’t know if I should give a f*** about this any more or less than I don’t give a f*** about what will happen to Megan Markle when she meets with the in-laws At the funeral.

Either way we need to stay out of foreign entanglements.

[canuck_conservative]

Either way we need to stay out of foreign entanglements

and that's what's happening

Ukrainians are doing all the fighting and dying

[MeganC]

“Either way we need to stay out of foreign entanglements.”

It’s never out choice to stay out of foreign affairs because there’s always someone out there who wants what we have or what our friends have.

And while you might be opposed to our country having allies you need only look at Russia to see what happens when your dream comes true.

[Vaquero]

If I was one of our allies I wouldn’t be happy with Brandon.
Western culture is being undermined by Brandon and the left leaning west. We need Allies like Hungary and Poland.