Putin visits Beijing to show Russia-China ties are unshakeable after Trump's grand welcome

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, seeking to demonstrate that Russia-China ties remain unshakeable just days after Donald Trump's high-profile visit to the Chinese capital.

The Kremlin said the two leaders would discuss how to "further strengthen" their strategic partnership and exchange views on key international and regional issues. The two leaders are also expected to sign a joint declaration after the talks.

Why is Putin visiting China right after Trump's trip to Beijing?

Putin's visit is a deliberate signal that Russia-China ties have not been unsettled by Trump's diplomatic push in Beijing.

The trip follows Trump's visit to China last week, the first by a US president in nearly a decade, which was aimed at stabilizing turbulent relations between Washington and Beijing. Putin wants to show the world that Russia's relationship with China remains structurally strong and unaffected by US outreach.

How have Russia-China ties developed since the Ukraine war?

Russia-China ties have deepened significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin visiting Beijing every year since. Moscow is diplomatically isolated on the global stage and heavily dependent on Beijing economically, with China now the main buyer of sanctioned Russian oil. The two countries marked 30 years of their strategic partnership this week, exchanging congratulatory letters ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

Putin said in a video message to the Chinese people released Tuesday that relations had reached "a truly unprecedented level" and that bilateral trade continued to grow. Xi said cooperation between the two countries had "continuously deepened and solidified," according to Chinese state media. Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution noted that both sides view their ties as "structurally stronger and more stable" than China-US relations, and that the relationship "does not require that kind of performative reassurance."

What did Xi say to Putin compared to Trump?

When Putin last visited Beijing in September 2025, Xi welcomed him as an "old friend," language he did not extend to Trump during last week's summit.

Putin, who calls Xi his "dear friend," is expected to receive a warmer personal reception than the ceremonial treatment afforded to Trump. While Beijing has not publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has consistently presented itself as a neutral party and called for negotiations to end the war, now more than four years old.

What will Putin and Xi discuss about energy and the Middle East?

Energy ties are expected to feature prominently at the meeting, with Beijing seeking more Russian oil as the war in Iran disrupts global supplies. Trump told Fox News during his China visit that Beijing had agreed to buy US oil to satisfy its "insatiable" appetite for energy, a claim that will concern Moscow given its reliance on Chinese purchases to sustain its war effort. Asia Society's Lyle Morris told AFP that Putin "does not want to lose that support."

Russia and China may hold differing views on the Iran conflict, according to analysts. China relies on open global waterways for its economic activity and would prefer the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz to end quickly.

Moscow, on the other hand, has benefited economically from the fighting in Iran due to the relaxation of sanctions on Russian energy exports, giving it less urgency to push for a resolution. Joseph Webster of the Atlantic Council said expanded energy ties may feature prominently as Beijing seeks more Russian supply, while Moscow looks to ship more oil east following Ukraine's targeting of Russian energy infrastructure.

What did analysts say about the Xi-Trump meeting and its implications for Russia?

Xi will almost certainly brief Putin on his summit with Trump, according to Kim of the Brookings Institution. The lack of clear outcomes from the Xi-Trump meeting likely reassures Moscow that Xi did not reach any understanding with Trump that would undercut Russian interests. Trump and Xi discussed Ukraine last week, but the US president left China without a breakthrough.