Putin Arrives in China on a Mission to Deepen the Partnership with Xi Jinping

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to make his first state visit to China since his re-election, where he will seek more support from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to resist Western efforts to isolate Moscow. The two leaders declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022, and Putin's visit comes amid global consternation over the ongoing Ukraine war. According to some reports, Putin is trying to escalate his war in Ukraine before Ukrainian forces can receive a replenishment of weapons and ammunition from the United States. China has been a crucial backer of Russia's actions in Ukraine, providing economic support after Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow. The sanctions targeted politicians and oligarchs, curbed access to Western technology, and cut Russian banks off from Swift international payment messaging system.