In a recent trip to Beijing, Vladimir Putin met with Xi Jinping, marking his first foreign visit since his re-election in March. Despite photos showing the two leaders in an embrace, there were no surprising advancements in relations between China and Russia. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby commented on the hug, stating that he is not one to discuss personal affection but that the US is keeping an eye on the relationship between the two countries.
The US has expressed concerns about Chinese companies supplying Russia with technology for its actions in Ukraine, and Kirby mentioned that Putin’s visit did not seem to have resulted in any major advances in this area. There is no indication that Xi has rushed to assist Russia’s armed forces. While there were no unexpected outcomes from the meeting, Kirby stated that the US is still monitoring the relationship between China and Russia.
During their talks, Putin and Xi framed their nations’ ties as a stabilizing force in a chaotic world. The US is observant of the situation and is keeping a close watch on the developments between these two powerful countries.
