Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing on Thursday, seeking stronger ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Russia faces international sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine. During the visit, Putin emphasized the strategic partnership between Russia and China, highlighting their intention to create a multipolar world order and deepen cooperation across various sectors, including trade, energy, and military.

In meetings with Xi, Putin underscored that China is Russia's primary trading partner and noted the significant trade levels between the two nations, which hit record highs last year. Both leaders expressed mutual support on key geopolitical issues, including China's stance on Taiwan and Russia's actions in Ukraine. A joint statement issued after their talks criticized the United States for its "destabilizing" military activities and called for a political resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

The visit comes amidst ongoing Russian military operations near Kharkiv, Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting challenges on the ground but asserting that Ukrainian forces have partially stabilized the region. The conflict has driven closer economic and military collaboration between Russia and China, further consolidating their alliance against Western sanctions and pressure.