President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Thursday that China had ¡°questions and concerns¡± about Russia¡¯s war in Ukraine, a notable, if cryptic, admission that Moscow lacks the full backing of its biggest, most powerful partner on the world stage.
Putin met China¡¯s leader, Xi Jinping, on Thursday in their first in-person meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine, and as Xi traveled abroad for the first time since the start of the pandemic. But rather than put on a show of Eurasian unity against the West as Russia struggled to recover from last week¡¯s humiliating military retreat in northeastern Ukraine, the two leaders struck discordant notes in their public remarks ¡ª and Xi made no mention of Ukraine at all.
¡°We highly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in connection with the Ukrainian crisis,¡± Putin said in televised remarks at the start of the meeting. ¡°We understand your questions and concerns in this regard.¡±
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