Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first trip abroad since being re-elected in March to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Despite photos showing the two leaders in an embrace, there were no surprising advancements in relations between China and Russia, according to the White House.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby commented on the hug, saying 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, but Kirby stated 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.
Putin and Xi framed their nations’ ties as a stabilizing force in a chaotic world during their talks. The US is observant of the situation and is keeping a close watch on the developments between these two powerful countries. While there were no unexpected outcomes from the meeting, Kirby mentioned that the US is still monitoring the relationship between China and Russia.
