Washington D.C –
United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the meeting that took place between the Presidents of Russia Vladimir Putin and the President of China Xi Jinping in Moscow, Russia. Blinken doubted the meeting was being held to stop the war in Ukraine.
As reported by AFP, Tuesday (21/3/2023), Blinken voiced skepticism of Xi Jinping’s proposal regarding peace with Ukraine. He thinks Russia and China could be just “stalling for time”.
“The world must not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze war in its own way,” Blinken told reporters.
Xi Jinping Meets Putin in Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow, Russia, on Monday (20/3) afternoon local time. During this state visit, Xi will meet President Vladimir Putin.
As reported by AFP and CNN, Monday (20/3/2023), Xi’s state visit will last for three days starting on Monday (20/3) local time.
“On the afternoon of March 20 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow, the capital of Russia, by special plane,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
This will be Xi’s first visit to Russia, which is a neighbor and close ally of China, since the invasion was launched into Ukraine a year ago.
Meanwhile, Putin welcomed the arrival of Xi Jinping. The two will discuss various matters, including negotiating Xi Jinping’s proposal for Russia to end the war with Ukraine.
“We are always open to negotiations,” Putin told Xi Jinping, who was making his first visit to Moscow since the start of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine last year.
“We will definitely discuss all these issues, including your initiatives which of course we treat with respect,” Putin said.
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