WP: Xi Didn't Give Putin What He Wanted
- 21.05.2026, 7:49
China is in no hurry to save Russia.
During his visit to Beijing, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin again failed to get China's final approval for the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which Moscow considers one of the key energy projects after the loss of the European market. This is reported by The Washington Post.
The project should allow Russia to supply China with up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually. However, despite years of negotiations, Beijing is still in no hurry to sign final agreements.
The publication notes that the situation has once again shown the limitations of the Russia-China partnership. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has become much more dependent on China - both for energy and supplies of technology and components for industry.
Nevertheless, Beijing continues to act cautiously and is trying to capitalize on Moscow's weakened position.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted after the talks that there is still no concrete timeline for the project's launch. He said the two sides had allegedly reached a "common understanding of the main parameters," but details still needed to be agreed.
At the meeting, Si Jinping and Putin sought to demonstrate unity amid recent U.S. actions. In a joint statement, Moscow and Beijing criticized "unilateral hegemony" and condemned strikes against other states, effectively hinting at US actions against Iran and Venezuela.
Si Jinping also said the world is threatened by "unilateralism and hegemonism," and an end to fighting in the Middle East is necessary for the stability of energy supplies and global trade.
At the same time, Beijing effectively reiterated support for Russia's stance on the war against Ukraine. In a joint statement, China supported the thesis that it is necessary to address the "root causes of the conflict" - which is how the Kremlin traditionally justifies aggression against Ukraine and demands that Kiev abandon its Euro-Atlantic course.
The Washington Post notes that such wording shows that China continues to diplomatically support Moscow's key demands, including preventing Ukraine from joining NATO.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has previously repeatedly said that such rhetoric actually plays along with the Kremlin and ignores the fact itself At the same time, both sides try not to bring such conflicts into the public arena.
In addition, Moscow is concerned that China is simultaneously supplying components to both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. In particular, Chinese parts are actively used in the production of Ukrainian drones, which allowed Ukraine to significantly increase the output of UAVs over the past year.
So, Beijing continues to maintain a favorable balance for itself - maintaining relations with the Kremlin, but avoiding complete attachment to Russian interests.