Sunday, 11 May 2025

What does Putin think of Washington/Beijing talks?

For the May 8 end of Second World War celebrations in Moscow, Vladimir Putin had his good friend Xi Zinping alongside him. Lots of hugs and hand-shaking and smiles. All very symbolic of the burgeoning friendship and alliance between Russia and China. They are strategic partners, effectively lined up against the United States and everything America stands for on the global stage. So what will Putin be thinking when he reads that Donald Trump's envoy and Xi Zinping's envoy have met in Switzerland and had a jolly good discussion and negotiation about resolving the tariff/trade war and improving relations between Washington and Beijing? Does Putin think Beijing is playing a double game here or did Xi reassure him when he was in Moscow that he has a grand plan with the US which won't upset or undermine his deep love for Putin and Russia? I think the Chinese president will have reassured Putin that his main priority is strengthening the relationship on all counts with Moscow but being a global economic superpower China has to have meaningful trade relations with Washington. Trump has said that if Putin stops the war in Ukraine and accepts a peace settlement, then the benefits for Russia will be huge vis a vis trade and business relations with the US. So far, Putin hasn't taken that on board. But if Washington and Beijing agree a new way of doing business together, it might persuade Putin to do likewise. Thus the war in Ukraine could end. It's just a thought but it might work.

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